Mr Arun Neelakantan (43) is the Chief Digital Officer of Hindustan Unilever Limited.

His purpose is to leverage the combined might of people and technology to disrupt business interactions.

In his previous role, Arun led HUL's digital transformation and growth agenda in South Asia.He has played a key role in anchoring the identification, tapping of growth opportunities, developing new digital capabilities, and driving HUL's digital agenda across the value chain. Under his leadership, HUL has accelerated its journey towards an intelligent enterprise by consolidating capabilities, unlocking cross-functional ecosystems, and enhancing the digital quotient of people. In parallel, he has also driven the growth agenda for HUL and Unilever, South Asia by identifying granular opportunities across business fundamentals, specifically in emerging channels and businesses, along with a holistic approach towards media, marketing, and commerce

Arun, with 17 years in Unilever, is an accomplished business leader of stature and impact. In addition to customer and consumer understanding, design and process thinking is his forte. Creating a vision for the future and leading change across a large ecosystem sets Arun apart. As a professional, he has build expertise in integrating operations, new business creation, and future-ready design. In Unilever, he has held various roles in Customer Development and Marketing across General Trade, Modern Trade, Customer Marketing and Brands. Arun is an alumnus of the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad and joined HUL in the year 2006.

In his free time, Arun loves to spend time with his family and friends. He enjoys his weekend football matches and is a crossword enthusiast. Arun has a keen interest in fitness, books and has cultivated an interest in music thanks to his family