Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) saw its shares rise by 1.19% to ₹2,696.30 in morning trade following the GST Council's decision to reduce tax rates on various FMCG products. The move is expected to benefit the FMCG sector significantly, with HUL positioned as a key beneficiary.

GST Rate Cuts

The GST Council has approved substantial rate reductions for essential FMCG products:

• Hair oil, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet soaps, and shaving cream: GST reduced from 18% to 5%
• Bread: GST completely eliminated
• Pasta and noodles: GST reduced from 12% to 5%

These rate cuts are anticipated to have a positive impact on consumer demand, particularly as the festive season approaches.

Market Response

The market's reaction to the news was evident in HUL's trading volume, which reached 11.35 lakh shares worth ₹308.44 crore by mid-morning. Several prominent brokerages, including CLSA and Goldman Sachs, have identified HUL as a major beneficiary of these tax reforms.

Goldman Sachs also highlighted other FMCG companies that stand to gain from the GST rate cuts, including Britannia, Colgate, and Dabur.

Potential Impact

Market analysts expect FMCG companies to pass on the GST benefits to consumers. This move could potentially:

1. Drive higher sales volumes
2. Improve company earnings
3. Ease inflationary pressures on essential goods

The timing of these rate cuts aligns well with the upcoming festive season, a period traditionally associated with peak consumer demand in India.

Upcoming Investor Meetings

In related news, HUL has announced its participation in two upcoming investor conferences:

1. 32nd CITIC CLSA Flagship Investors' Forum on September 8
2. BofA Securities Asia Pacific Conference on September 9

Both events will be physical conferences, providing opportunities for HUL to engage with investors and potentially discuss the impact of the recent GST rate cuts on their business outlook.

As the FMCG sector adapts to these tax reforms, investors and consumers alike will be watching closely to see how companies like HUL leverage this opportunity to drive growth and value in the coming months.

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), one of India's leading FMCG companies, has announced a significant change in its top management. Niranjan Gupta is set to take over as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the company, succeeding Ritesh Tiwari, who is moving to a global role within Unilever PLC.

Key Management Changes

• New CFO Appointment: Niranjan Gupta will assume the role of Executive Director, Finance & Chief Financial Officer at HUL, effective November 1, 2025.
• Transition Period: Gupta will join as Chief Financial Officer - Designate on September 1, 2025, allowing for a smooth transition.
• Board Position: Subject to necessary approvals, Gupta will also join the HUL Board from November 1, 2025.
• Outgoing CFO: Ritesh Tiwari will transition to the role of Global Head of M&A and Treasury at Unilever PLC, based in London, from November 1, 2025.

Niranjan Gupta's Background

Niranjan Gupta brings a wealth of experience to his new role at HUL:

• HUL Veteran: Began his career with HUL, spending 20 years across various leadership roles.
• Diverse Industry Experience: Held positions at Vedanta Limited and Hero MotoCorp.
• Recent Roles: Served as CFO at Hero MotoCorp from 2017, later elevated to CEO in 2023.
• Strategic Contributions: Known for strengthening financial health, long-term strategy creation, and establishing strategic partnerships, including a collaboration with Harley Davidson.

Ritesh Tiwari's Tenure and Achievements

Ritesh Tiwari, who has been with HUL since 2021, leaves behind a strong legacy:

• Pandemic Leadership: Steered the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring sustained growth.
• Strategic Capital Allocation: Focused on driving competitive volume-led growth in volatile market conditions.
• Portfolio Management: Led key acquisitions, disposals, and partnerships to sharpen HUL's portfolio.
• Recent Initiative: Spearheaded the Ice Cream business demerger into Kwality Walls (India) Limited, paving the way for its independent listing (subject to regulatory approvals).

Management Commentary

Priya Nair, CEO & MD of HUL, expressed confidence in the transition:

"I would like to thank Ritesh for his future-focused leadership and invaluable contribution to HUL. He led our portfolio transformation efforts, aligning resources to high-growth areas resulting in strong market share gains. His elevation to the global role is yet another testament to HUL's strong leadership pipeline. I am pleased to welcome Niranjan back to Hindustan Unilever and I am confident that he will play a pivotal role in steering the company towards its next phase of growth."

The appointment of Niranjan Gupta as CFO marks a new chapter for Hindustan Unilever, bringing fresh perspectives and extensive experience to the company's financial leadership. As HUL continues to navigate the dynamic FMCG landscape, this strategic move is expected to contribute to the company's ongoing growth and market position.