HUL announces Niranjan Gupta as new CFO
In an effort to make key changes to its management committee, HUL appoints Niranjan Gupta as the chief financial officer (CFO) effective 1 November 2025.
28 Aug 2025 | By Jiya Somaiya
Niranjan Gupta's appointment as CFO follows key changes that HUL has made in its managing committee in the past months (Image: DSwati)
On 21 August, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) announced the appointment of Niranjan Gupta as chief financial officer (CFO), designate and member of the HUL management committee, effective from 1 September 2025.
Additionally, effective 1 November 2025, Gupta will succeed Ritesh Tiwari as executive director, finance and CFO. Gupta will also join the HUL Board, subject to necessary approvals. Gupta will report to Priya Nair, chief executive officer and managing director, HUL.
Furthermore, effective from 1 November 2025, Ritesh Tiwari is appointed as the global head of mergers and acquisitions and treasury at Unilever Plc, based in London.
Priya Nair, CEO and MD at HUL, said, “I would like to thank Ritesh for his future-focused leadership and invaluable contribution to HUL. He led our portfolio transformation efforts, aligning resources to high-growth areas, resulting in strong market share gains. His elevation to the global role is yet another testament to HUL’s strong leadership pipeline.”
Nair added, “I am pleased to welcome Niranjan back to Hindustan Unilever, and I am confident that he will play a pivotal role in steering the company towards its next phase of growth.”
As per results shared by HUL for the quarter ended 30 June 2025, HUL reported a Profit After Tax before exceptional items decreased by 5%, whereas Profit After Tax (PAT) grew by 6%. The company has seen multiple leadership changes in the last year.
The appointment of Niranjan Gupta follows various key changes that HUL has made in its managing committee in the past months. WhatPackaging? readers will recall the appointment of Priya Nair as HUL’s CEO and MD in July 2025. In addition, in March 2025, HUL appointed Rajneet Kohli, the former CEO of Britannia Industries, as executive director, foods. In December 2024, Vivek Mittal was appointed as executive director, legal and corporate affairs.
The company shared that, with 20 years of experience across several leadership roles at HUL, Gupta has experience across finance, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, and strategic roles in diverse industries. Following his time with HUL, Gupta spent three years with Vedanta Limited before joining Hero MotoCorp as CFO in 2017, where he was later promoted to CEO in 2023.
As per an official press release by HUL, Ritesh Tiwari took over as HUL’s executive director, finance, and CFO in 2021, guiding the firm through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring development while safeguarding the financial growth model. Tiwari invested resources in accordance with the company's strategic aims, resulting in volume-led growth despite turbulent market conditions. He oversaw acquisitions, disposals, and collaborations that helped HUL polish its portfolio and prepare for the future.
More recently, Tiwari also oversaw the demerger of the Ice Cream business into Kwality Walls India, clearing the door for an independent listing, subject to regulatory approval.