Leena Nair

Leena Nair took the helm at Chanel in January 2022, arriving after three decades at Unilever where she was the youngest-ever and first female chief human resources officer. Her time at the fashion house has coincided with a challenging moment for the luxury industry. Early in her tenure, Nair stepped up investment in Chanel’s boutiques, client experiences, and back‑end systems to shore up the brand for the long term. The strategy appears to be working: Chanel’s brand value surged 45% to $37.9 billion in 2025, making it the fastest-growing luxury fashion brand globally, according to Brand Finance. Nair has also emerged as a prominent voice on the risks and opportunities of AI, warning that new technologies can entrench bias if they are built without “ethics and integrity.” She was also appointed Commander of the British Empire in 2025 for services to the retail and consumer sector.