New York: London-based Leena Nair, CEO of the global, luxury fashion brand Chanel is among 12 trailblazers chosen as this year’s ‘Time Women of the Year.’ These “extraordinary leaders” have been creating “a better future for women” by “building bridges—across generations, communities, and borders — and “working toward a more equal world,” the magazine says.
Nair, 54, is known for her “contributions to the field of human resources, her advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and her expertise in leading and transforming global organizations,” according to her profile. She was appointed CEO of Chanel in December 2021, succeeding Alain Wertheimer. In her role, she is “responsible for leading and transforming” the brand, the profile said. Time notes that “more than 60% of management positions at Chanel are held by women.
Describing the India-born Nair as “an outsider to the fashion world,” Times says she is “hoping to pioneer a different kind of leadership—one that celebrates compassion, empathy, and kindness.” Speaking to the magazine, Nair said “it’s a great time to show that the days of the superhero leader are behind us.” She said she has “always believed in the collective voice, in diverse perspectives; if I sit in a meeting, I want to listen to every voice around the table, not just the dominant ones.”
