Leena is the Chief Human Resources Officer and sits on the Executive Committee, the senior most decision making team reporting to Paul Polman, the CEO. While there are 2575 employees in the HR function, Leena bears overall responsibility for the hiring, training, rewards and remuneration of all Unilever employees worldwide. She also oversees the Diversity and Inclusion agenda for the organisation and has the mandate to shape initiatives and processes that enable the workforce to be truly diverse and inclusive.
Leena is the first female and youngest ever CHRO of Unilever. She spearheaded the creation of a world-class leadership centre in Singapore and led the launch of key technology innovations. Prior to this, she undertook a wide range of HR roles in India, and as VP HR South Asia, she led the talent and organisation strategy that was a significant enabler in helping the business deliver its vision. She brought in a number of innovations, including the Career by Choice programme, which helps women who have fallen off the career ladder to re-join the workforce.
Since 1992, when she joined Unilever as a trainee, Leena has had many firsts to her credit, from being one of the first women managers to opt for a factory stint to becoming the first woman on HULs management committee and its youngest executive director.
