Kolhapur-Born CEO Makes Fortune’s List of 10 Women Reshaping European Industries

Kolhapur-Born CEO Makes Fortune’s List: Born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Leena Nair has placed herself in the list of Fortune ten women changing the realms of industry in Europe. A small town of India has produced such a paragon: leading an iconic luxury brand - Chanel - that she very much personifies first-rate leadership and vision.

Nair assumed office as the CEO of the French luxury label Chanel in January 2022, after nearly six years as Unilever's chief human resources officer. She is now featured at rank #68 on Fortune's Most Powerful Women list for 2024.

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Early life and education

Nair was born in Kolhapur and studied electronics and telecommunication engineering at Walchand College of Engineering in Sangli. An insight of her managerial capabilities by one of the professors of the Institute influenced her to pursue an MBA in human resources program at XLRI, Jamshedpur, where she graduated as a gold medalist.

Trailblazing career at Unilever

Nair started her career at Hindustan Unilever as a management trainee - the first woman to be on the factory floor and later also the first woman to work a night shift. After nearly 30 years with the company, she rose to the position of Chief Human Resources Officer at Unilever, whose operations now cover 100 countries and about 150,000 employees. Under her supervision, Unilever successfully achieved gender balance in its global management.

Nair was appointed in January 2022 as Global CEO of Chanel, the first woman and first Asian ever to head the French luxury house: this appointment thus made a big mark in itself. It also carried with it a vision of shifting the luxury fashion into inclusion and diversity.

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Fortune's List

• Apart from Leena Nair, Fortune's list also includes many such outstanding women heading some of the top European companies, leading their businesses into new territories by overcoming challenges, and paving the way for future generations.
• Karin Rådström (CEO, Daimler Truck Holding) - The first female CEO of Daimler Truck Holding, Rådström took over in 2024 to lead one of Europe's largest automotive manufacturers.
• Estelle Brachlianoff (CEO, Veolia) - Collectively heading the $49 billion French utility giant, Brachlianoff previously played an important role in cleaning the Seine River before the Paris Olympics.
• Christel Heydemann (CEO, Orange) - Leading the French telecommunications giant since 2022, Heydemann also sits on the company's board.
• Isabelle Ferrand (CEO, Crédit Mutuel) - This female CEO is one of the few heading a major European bank, having taken up her position in 2023.
• Anne Rigail (CEO, Air France) - The first female head of the airline, Rigail started her career with this airline nearly 30 years ago.
• Michelle M. MacKay (CEO, Cushman & Wakefield) - Leading the global real estate firm since 2023, MacKay manages one of the largest businesses in commercial property.
• Emma Walmsley (CEO, GSK) - The woman in charge of the British pharmaceutical giant GSK, Walmsley has driven growth through work on new cancer treatments and vaccines.
• Debra Crew (CEO, Diageo) - One of the few female CEOs in the FTSE 100, Crew heads the global beverage powerhouse Diageo.

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