Hindustan Unilever elevates Manish Tiwary as MD in Gulf; Punit Misra to head HUL sales

MUMBAI: Manish Tiwary, sales head of Hindustan Unilever, has been promoted as managing director of parent Unilever’s business in the Gulf.

Punit Misra, vice president (customer development) for global route to market and traditional trade at Unilever, will replace Tiwary as HUL executive director and vice president, sales and customer development. He will be part of the firm’s management committee.

A Hindustan Unilever spokesperson confirmed the promotions and said the change will be effective November, 2014.

In recent times Unilever has promoted several Indian executives to take up global roles.

A few months ago, Hemant Bakshi, who oversaw the home and personal care segment at HUL, moved to Unilever Indonesia as executive vice president. Last year, Unilever promoted its India managing director Nitin Paranjpe as global head of home care business.

Tiwary, 42, has spent nearly 20 years across several of Hindustan Unilever's division.

An MBA from IIM-Bangalore and engineer, he played a crucial role in building HUL's capability for servicing modern trade channel back in 2004, which later helped it take leadership in most categories at supermarkets. Tiwary also headed HUL's north division diving sales worth over $1 billion in 2007-08.

Hindustan Unilever recently restructured its home and personal care business into two separate divisions for a sharper focus, translating into a shake-up in its top management.