Mondelez International restructures ME leadership team

Mondelēz International, American multinational confectionery and F&B conglomerate owning brands such as Oreo biscuits and Cadbury Dairy Milk, has appointed a new leadership team to drive the next phase of its growth in the GCC and Pakistan.

As part of the restructuring, Alan Smith is appointed managing director for the Gulf and Pakistan. With over a decade of experience in Mondelēz International, Smith will be responsible for overseeing sales, logistics and operations for GCC countries and Pakistan, ensuring continued growth across the MENA business.

Vishal Tikku is appointed president cheese, grocery & beverages for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mondelēz International. He will oversee marketing, sales and operations in the category’s biggest market, Saudi Arabia, as well as Nigeria, South Africa and Pakistan with operations in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Jose Esteve has been appointed as managing director for Saudi Arabia where Mondelēz International has been operating over a century. Through its subsidiary, Nabisco Arabia, the company operates one of the largest internationally owned F&B plants in the Middle East producing Oreo, Belvita, Ritz and Prince biscuits as well as the Barni sponge cake. Esteve has over 20 years of experience in international markets, including the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Europe and will use his comprehensive knowledge of the business to continue expanding the company’s operations in Saudi Arabia.

Vanya Panayotova, as managing director of growth markets EEMEA, will oversee sales, planning, analysis and trade marketing across the Middle East and Africa, including Iraq, Algeria, Yemen, Sudan, Kenya, Mozambique and Angola. With 18 years of experience in sales, category work, organisation and strategy development, Panayotova began her career with Mondelēz International in 2012 as director of sales capability, EEMEA, where she was responsible for the development of sales capabilities and regional category sales.

Usman Muneer will be leading as managing director of Pakistan. Mondelēz Pakistan operates three snacking categories – chocolate, powdered beverage and candy – and is the market leader in the first two through its Cadbury and Tang brands. With over 10 years of experience in several international markets such as the Middle East, Africa, and Pakistan, Muneer will oversee the finance and marketing departments to fast-track development in the Pakistan market.

“The team has a proven track record in building and leading global business operations and extensive experience of operating in emerging markets. They will build on our double-digit growth in the region and bring a wide-range of expertise to our brands, innovation platforms, routes to market and supply chain. So that we’re well-positioned to accelerate revenue growth as consumer demand in the region continues to grow,” says Andre Benoit, corporate & government affairs director for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa of Mondelēz International.