Leena Nair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leena Nair
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Nair in 2022
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| Born | June 11, 1969 Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
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| Nationality | British |
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| Title | CEO, Chanel |
Leena Nair (born in 1969) is a British-Indian business leader. She is currently the chief executive officer (CEO) of Chanel, a famous fashion company. Before joining Chanel, Leena Nair was a top leader at Unilever. There, she was in charge of all the people working for the company around the world. She helped make Unilever a top choice for new graduates in many countries. Leena Nair believes in creating workplaces where people are treated well and leaders are kind.
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Early Life and Education
Leena Nair was born on June 11, 1969, in Kolhapur, India. She grew up in a Hindu family. She went to Holy Cross Convent High School and The New College in Kolhapur.
She earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli. Later, she graduated from XLRI – Xavier School of Management. She was a top student there, earning a gold medal. Before her big roles, she worked in different factories in India.
Leena Nair's Career Journey
Starting at Unilever
Leena Nair began her career at Unilever in 1992. She started as an intern and then became a management trainee. For many years, she worked in various parts of the company in India. These roles included working in factories, sales, and the main office.
By 2007, she became a director for human resources at Hindustan Unilever Limited. After 20 years in India, she moved to Unilever's global headquarters in London. In 2016, she made history at Unilever. She became the first woman, the first Asian person, and the youngest ever chief human resources officer.
Leading Chanel
In December 2021, Leena Nair was chosen to be the CEO of Chanel. She officially started this important role in January 2022. In her first year, she visited many Chanel stores and factories. She also met with key fashion leaders, like Chanel's creative director.
Leena Nair has started new projects at Chanel. The company is opening more special stores for watches and jewelry. In 2022, Chanel also launched a new beauty line. This line, called N°1 de Chanel, focuses on eco-friendly products. Chanel has also made special private rooms for its most important customers.
Leena Nair has had important mentors in her career. These include Indra Nooyi, who used to be the CEO of PepsiCo.
Other Important Roles
Leena Nair also serves on the boards of other organizations.
- She is a non-executive board member at BT plc.
- She is part of the Trust Board for the Leverhulme Trust.
- She helps guide discussions on the future of education and work at the World Economic Forum.
Awards and Special Recognition
Leena Nair has received many awards for her work.
- In 2023, Fortune magazine named her one of the Most Powerful Women.
- Forbes India included her on their Top Self-Made Women's List in 2022.
- She won the Role Model of Year award in 2021 at The Great British Businesswoman's Awards.
- Fortune India also listed her among the Most Powerful Women in 2021.
- In 2020, she was named Global Indian of the Year by The Economic Times.
- She was recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017. This was for being an accomplished Indian business leader in the UK.
Personal Life
Leena Nair is the daughter of K. Karthikeyan. She is married to Kumar Nair, who works in financial services. They have two sons. Her cousins, Vijay Menon and Sachin Menon, are also involved in business in India.
