Harish Manwani (born 1953) is a distinguished Indian business executive known for his extensive career in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, primarily with Unilever. He served as the Non-Executive Chairman of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), the Indian subsidiary of Unilever, from 2005 until his retirement in 2019. Prior to this, he held significant international leadership roles within Unilever, culminating as the President of Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Central & Eastern Europe (AAME CEE), making him one of the most senior global executives at the company.
Early Life and Education Manwani holds a Bachelor's degree from Mumbai University and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Career at Unilever Harish Manwani joined Hindustan Lever Limited (now Hindustan Unilever Ltd) in 1976 as a management trainee. Over his four-decade career with Unilever, he gained diverse experience across various categories, functions, and geographies, rising through the ranks to occupy top leadership positions.
- 1995: Appointed to the Board of Hindustan Unilever Ltd as a Director, with responsibility for the Personal Care and Foods businesses.
- 2000: Relocated internationally, first becoming Senior Vice President, Global Hair Care, and subsequently President, Home & Personal Care, for the Latin America region.
- 2004: Appointed President, Asia and Africa for Unilever, overseeing significant growth markets.
- 2005-2019: Served as Non-Executive Chairman of Hindustan Unilever Ltd, providing strategic guidance to the Indian operations.
- 2008-2015: Appointed President, Asia, Africa, Middle East, and Central & Eastern Europe (AAME CEE). During this period, he was a member of the Unilever Executive Board, playing a crucial role in shaping the company's strategy and performance in its key emerging markets.
Manwani was recognized for his strategic acumen, deep understanding of consumer markets, and leadership in driving growth and developing talent across diverse regions. He played a pivotal role in strengthening Unilever's presence and market share in many of its key emerging markets.
Post-Unilever Roles Following his retirement from executive roles at Unilever, Manwani has continued to contribute to the corporate world through various non-executive board positions. His current and past board memberships include:
- Non-Executive Director on the Board of Tata Sons Private Limited, the holding company of the Tata Group.
- Independent Director on the Board of Whirlpool Corporation.
- Member of the Board of Directors of GIC Private Limited (Singapore's sovereign wealth fund).
- Served on the Supervisory Board of Nielsen Holdings PLC.
Recognition Manwani is widely regarded as a respected figure in the global business community, celebrated for his long and distinguished career in leadership roles within a multinational corporation and his insights into emerging markets.