Dr. Vibhav R. Sanzgiri

Dr Vibhav R Sanzgiri is the Executive Director R&D, Hindustan Unilever Ltd., Global Head Personal Care R&D Skin Cleansing Category and Site Leader HUL and Unilever R&D India. He is also the Co-Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee of FICCI. Vibhav joined Unilever in 1997 as a Research Scientist. In 2003, after working on brands like Domex and Pure-It and leading Knowledge Management for R&D, he moved into the Skin Care Category where he was responsible for creating several unbeatable formulations. Since then, Vibhav has held various global & regional leadership roles in Unilever’s Skin Care and Skin Cleansing categories. In his current global role, he leads a global team crafting the strategy and end-to-end mix creation for iconic Unilever brands such as Dove, Dove Men+Care, Lux, Lifebuoy, Pears, Hamam, etc. and many more. He also leads the global category strategy for disruptive technologies and is responsible for contributing to the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan agenda on deforestation-free, biodegradable ingredients, reducing plastic waste and greenhouse gases and carbon neutrality. In his role as Site Leader for HUL and Unilever R&D India, Vibhav is responsible for leading the Unilever & HUL Research & Development centers situated in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Gurgram and driving the agenda on "Reimagining R&D" and championing inclusivity. As Executive Director R&D HUL, he is part of the core Management Committee of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (India's No 1 FMCG company). He also serves as the Executive Director for UIPL (Unilever India Private Limited). Vibhav is currently a member of Unilever’s Global R&D LT, the Personal Care R&DLT and the Personal Care Marketing LT, along with the HUL & UIPL Management Committess. Prior to his new elevated role, Vibhav was also part of the Regional & Global Category LT, Unilever's Water Board and the Unilever-Dow Executive Committee. He is the co-author on several patents and publications and has also spoken at various national & international meetings on product safety, sustainability, skin care, and hygiene. He also represents Unilever in external forums and across various external collaborations. He is also the Co-Chairman of the Science an Technology Committee of FICCI (Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry). A Microbiologist & Molecular Biologist, with double gold-medals in B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Mumbai, Vibhav holds a PhD from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center under a fellowship from the Department of Atomic Energy. He is married and is based out Mumbai.