Chanel CEO Leena Nair Receives CBE from Prince William for Work in Retail

By: WE staff | Thursday, 12 June 2025

• Chanel's global CEO, Leena Nair, received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) award
• Prince William, Prince of Wales, presented the honor
• Her contributions to the retail and consumer industries earned her the honor

Prince William, Prince of Wales, has bestowed the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) upon Chanel's global chief executive officer, Leena Nair. Her exceptional contributions to the retail and consumer industries are honored with this recognition, which is a part of the 2025 King's New Year's Honors list.

Leena, who has led Chanel since January 2022, was also listed among Fortune India's 2025 list of the Most Powerful Women. Chanel has improved customer experiences, raised brand recognition, and expedited its sustainability goals under her direction. Support for Fondation CHANEL, one of the biggest corporate foundations in the world that helps 9 million women and girls, has significantly increased thanks to the company.

"To receive this extraordinary recognition is an honor," Leena remarked. "I dedicate this award to my family, my coworkers at Chanel and Unilever, and most importantly, my team at Chanel. This motivates me to keep up my integrity and purposeful leadership".

Leena worked as Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Committee member at Unilever for thirty years prior to joining Chanel. She has also served on the boards of BT plc, the Leverhulme Trust, and the Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy division of the UK Government. She was born and raised in Kolhapur, India, and graduated with an MBA from XLRI Jamshedpur. Her progressive, people-first leadership style, which balances human values with long-term business impact, has made her famous worldwide.

Gabrielle Chanel founded the global luxury brand Chanel, which offers haute couture, ready-to-wear apparel, accessories, and more. The company has established the CHANEL Culture Fund, set aggressive net-zero goals, and established an Open Innovation division to collaborate with academics and startups to shape the future under Nair's leadership.