Chanel CEO Leena Nair Honoured with Prestigious CBE in UK

Leena Nair, the British-Indian CEO of luxury fashion house Chanel, has been awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her outstanding leadership in the retail and consumer sector.

The honour was presented by Prince William, the Prince of Wales, during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle as part of the 2025 King’s New Year Honours list, which recognises significant contributions to British society.

Nair, 55, has earned global acclaim for her human-centred, values-driven leadership. Since taking the helm at Chanel in January 2022, she has focused on brand excellence, customer experience, and sustainability, leading the company into a bold new era.

In her statement, Leena expressed deep gratitude:

“It is an honour to receive this extraordinary recognition… I dedicate this award to my amazing team at Chanel and to all those who have supported my journey.”

Raised in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, and a graduate of XLRI Jamshedpur, Leena began her career in India before joining Unilever, where she broke several glass ceilings — becoming the first female, first Asian, and youngest ever Chief Human Resources Officer.

Beyond corporate leadership, she has also served on the boards of BT Plc, the Leverhulme Trust, and advised the UK government on business strategy.