Unilever appoints Faraz Zaidi as head of HR for global customer operations

Global consumer goods company Unilever has appointed Faraz Zaidi as head of HR for global customer operations, placing him at the centre of workforce strategy and organisational design across one of the company's most operationally complex functions. The appointment is relevant to HR professionals tracking how large multinationals are structuring people leadership within global operations divisions.

People Matters reported that Zaidi will work closely with senior leadership to align talent, capability, and organisational culture with business priorities, with a mandate spanning organisation design, workforce planning, productivity enhancement, and large-scale transformation support.

Zaidi brings more than 15 years of experience at Unilever across global, regional, and country-level HR roles. Most recently he served as HR director for global business services, leading HR across multiple service lines and overseeing a workforce of more than 2,500 employees.

Earlier assignments included HR director roles covering technology, data and analytics, and people experience within Uniops in Market, as well as HR director for supply chain in NAMET. He also served as global employee experience lead, where he developed frameworks including the Experience Lab to capture employee feedback at scale.

The appointment reflects a broader strategic emphasis on integrating people strategy with operational performance as Unilever continues to evolve its operating model across global markets. His elevation to lead HR for customer operations, a critical function supporting execution across markets and channels, underscores the increasing weight placed on HR leadership within large-scale operational transformation programmes.

Before joining Unilever, Zaidi held roles at MCB Bank and IAL Saatchi & Saatchi. He holds an MBA in human resources from the Institute of Business Management.

Read more on the full appointment profile and career background.