MITR expands global team

Mars International Travel Retail has significantly expanded its global team

in order to reflect its increased commitment to and investment in growing

the confectionery category. With five new positions created, MITR believes it now has the strongest and most focused team to support its new strategy for confectionery in travel retail, launched at TFWA World Exhibition last year.

Under the captainship of General Manager Craig Sargeant, the MITR team has been structured to ensure total global coverage and support.

Regionally, MITR has created three new Business Development Manager positions to better cover its business in North America; Russia/CIS/Eastern Europe and China. They report to either Simon Knapp (Sales Director Middle Easat, UK, Americas) or Christophe Bouye (Sales Director Asia, Nordics, Europe & Russia). Joining the company are:

Carrie Bauer, Business Development Manager Mars ITR, North America. With experience of duty-free/travel retail and US department store channels, Carrie joins the company after various sales roles with fashion accessory companies including Viva International/Marcolin, Fossil, and Binda Italia. Brands managed include Guess, Fossil, D&G Dolce & Gabbana.

Olga Zhivotarova, Business Development Manager, Russia/CIS/Eastern Europe. Olga joins MITR from Mars Russia where she had worked in various sales roles for the past 7 years.  The growing importance of China sees the appointment of Changli Wang as Junior Regional Account Manager. Based in Shanghai he  previously worked with a sports superstore.

Elsewhere, Jose Vera takes on the Business Development Manger role for Asia Pacific.  With previous experience with Toms Confectionery and Cadbury Philippines, Jose has great experience of managing, servicing and developing travel retail channels in the region. The GCC area is now looked after by Bassam Saleh who has spent 15 years working in the region; the last 10 with Mars GCC. During this time he has held several positions based in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE.

Another new face is New Zealander James Ravlich who is based at the Veghel head office taking on the role of Business Development Manger Wrigley. Following in the footsteps of Diederik Frank, who now becomes Global Portfolio Manager, James is responsible for developing MITR’s sugar and gum business within travel retail, seen has having huge untapped potential. Bringing experience from different FMCG companies, James has held various trade and brand marketing roles including Carlsberg New Zealand.

Finally, Philippe Brouwers has joined MITR in the new role of Global Account manager Business Performance Analyst. Philippe’s core goals are to focus on improved and more effective decision-making based on market insights and data

“In Cannes last year we launched our ‘The Power of a Smile’ category vision for travel retail, alongside a strong portfolio of new product launches which focus more on the need for exclusivity and innovation,” says Craig Sargeant “Combined with this, 2015 will see an incredibly busy year of activations and promotions, alongside new store and shop-in-shop openings. However, none of this will come together and work efficiently if we do not have the team in place to carry our vision through, to work closely with our retail partners, and to support our efforts both on a global and regional level.

“I believe that with these new appointments and changes within the Mars International Travel Retail department, we are now very well placed to bring the brand experience to life in travel retail outlets all over the world through exciting theatre and winning products that together create a compelling offer guaranteed to bring smiles to travellers faces.”