Mondelez International, the maker of iconic brands including Cadbury Dairy Milk, Oreo, Ritz and Toblerone, has appointed Hemant Rupani as president for its Southeast Asia (SEA) Business Unit.
Hemant, previously Managing Director of Mondelez Kinh Do Vietnam, replaces Glenn Caton who has moved to another position in the company’s global operations.
In his new role, Hemant will be responsible for the SEA cluster of markets including the exports business in the broader Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region, leading growth and end-to-end business.
He said: “The SEA business has been on an accelerated growth path driven by increasing consumption, digital penetration, talented population, and cultural diversity in the region.”
“We have built a reign as category leaders across segments with our portfolio of iconic global brands and local jewels. Combining our solid team, local-first strategy, and robust investments, we are in a strong position to lead the future of snacking and drive sustainable growth forward.”
He added: “Over the years, we have learned to adapt in making the business more agile, resilient, and competitive. Digitalization will play an increasing role to help us speed up innovation, strengthen proximity to consumers, and spearhead progress towards creating snacks the right way.”
Hemant is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience working in India, the U.S. and Vietnam, covering various industries including food and beverage (F&B), telecommunications, and consulting.
Throughout his career journey, Hemant has enabled multiple business turnarounds, driven operational excellence, and built high-impact teams. Prior to joining Mondelez International in 2016, he worked with several leading organizations including PepsiCo, Vodafone, Britannia, and Infosys Technologies.
Mondelez International commands a long-standing heritage in SEA. The region also houses ten manufacturing facilities and two technical centers that support its world-class supply chain capabilities and product innovation.
Early this year, Mondelez International invested $23 million to expand its OREO production line in Cikarang, Indonesia, which also uses the latest technologies in reducing energy, water and carbon emissions. The company has also integrated solar panel rooftops on two of its manufacturing plants in Malaysia, including the Cadbury chocolate production factory which has a 48-year-old heritage locally.