USA- Confectionery giant Mars Wrigley has appointed Alejandro Pinillos as the new vice-president of marketing for Europe, CIS, and Turkey.

He joins from Pepsico, where he was Senior Vice President for the Snacks category in Europe starting in July 2011.

At Pepsico, he oversaw a team of 50 employees that generated US$5.7 billion in NSV through local and international brands like Walkers, Duyvis, PopWorks, and Hrusteam in addition to worldwide brands like Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, and Ruffles.

He will apply his broad understanding of global FMCG and marketing to his new position at Mars Wrigley to strengthen the Mars Wrigley brands in Turkey, the CIS, and Europe.

Pinillos stated that he was excited to be joining Mars Wrigley, which already has a strong marketing legacy, a beloved portfolio of household brands, and a reputation for being driven by a core set of business principles.

Notably, the Vice President position was previously held by Matt Graham, who is now serving as Mars Wrigley’s Global Vice President of Marketing for Food and Nutrition.

Marc Carena, Regional President for Mars Wrigley commented that he is confident that they are in good hands with Alejandro’s innovative approach and fresh mindset and cannot wait to start working together.

Recently, Mars Wrigley began construction of a new global research and development hub adjacent to the company’s existing Global Innovation Center at Goose Island in Chicago.

Recently, Mars Wrigley began construction of a new global research and development hub adjacent to the company’s existing Global Innovation Center at Goose Island in Chicago.

On completion of this facility, slated for summer 2023, Chicago will become the largest innovation hub in the world for Mars Wrigley.

Leaders from Mars as well as key Chicago stakeholders, including Michael Fassnacht, CEO, World Business Chicago, and Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., gathered to commemorate the milestone for the company.

The new facility will incorporate a test kitchen for developing new products, state-of-the-art pilot lines, and an area for breakthrough technology development.

Mars Wrigley said that these developments are expected to drive category-leading innovations for its global snacks and treat brands such as M&M’S, Snickers, and Twix, as the company continues to expand its interests across the sector.

This new investment will bring about thirty additional jobs to the Mars Wrigley Global Innovation Center, with jobs on the Mars Goose Island campus nearing 1,000.

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