Chanel fashion house has chosen Indian-born Leena Nair as CEO Fashion Industry News

Nair Alain Wertheimer is the co-owner and chairman of private billionaire Chanel as CEO.

Chanel luxury fashion house has chosen Leena Nair, India’s foreign industry and longtime director of Unilever, to be its new CEO.

Nair said in a Twitter post that he was “humbled and honored” to be named @ CHANEL, the iconic and admired company, as Global Chief Executive Officer.

The news was sparked on Wednesday in India, his hometown of Nair, where he received many congratulations and praise for his announcement, one of which he called “breaking the glass ceiling of the award”.

The appointment is full of “historic firsts,” said Abhay Gupta, chief executive officer and founder of India’s Luxury Connect advisory team.

“I’m happy. It’s the first time an Indian has led a global luxury brand, that’s also an Indian woman, and it’s the first time they’ve chosen an outsider in the fashion industry, ”she said.

People of Indian descent are at the forefront of global technology, finance and other businesses, but the same cannot be said of luxury brands. Gupta, who also runs a luxury management school, said his students will be “inspired” by the news.

“It’s very gratifying and motivating, especially since we haven’t seen that. Coming from a non-luxury background, I hope it will bring a new perspective; it’s a sign that things are changing, ”he said.

Although Nair, 52, is not part of the Parisian fashion scene, Chanel has a wide range of products in addition to its fashion designs.

Nair Alain Wertheimer is the co-owner and chairman of private billionaire Chanel as CEO. Pierre Wertheimer, the grandson of Chanel co-founder, continues as the global executive president of the fashion house.

In an emailed press release, Chanel said Nair’s hiring “will ensure more long-term success as a private company.” It will begin its new mission in late January and will be headquartered in London, the company said.

The British consumer goods giant Unilever describes Nair as its first woman, the first Asian and the youngest human resources manager ever. He joined Unilever in India in 1992 and rose through the ranks, spending time in the company’s factories.

Nair will take on his new role in January. Her appointment has returned home as a sign of the rise of Indian employers, especially women.

In his social media posts, Nair described Indian-born former PepsiC director Indra Nooyi as a friend and tutor. Nair recently received the British Business Model of the Year Award.

But she is not the first woman to be Chanel’s CEO. Earlier, Francoise Montenay and American Maureen Chiquet played the role. And, of course, the co-founder of the Maison de Chanel was a woman named Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.

Nair Kumar is married to financial entrepreneur Nair and has two children.