Dive Brief:
-
Mars’ Kind Snacks named Daniel Calderoni as CEO of its North American operations. Calderoni brings more than 20 years of global experience leading consumer brands at Mars and Unilever. He will report to Blas Maquivar, global president of health and wellness at Mars Snacking.
-
Calderoni most recently served as the general manager for Mars Pet Nutrition in Canada. “I believe an organization’s purpose should be its true differentiator,” the executive in a statement. “I’m eager to take part in leading the brand into its next chapter as we shape the future of snacking.”
-
Calderoni replaces Russell Stokes who took a job outside of Mars. The transition comes as Mars works to close its $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, manufacturer of RXBar and Nutri-Grain bar, and inflation prompts consumers to cut back on what and how much they buy.
Dive Insight:
During his tenures at Mars, Calderoni worked in pet food, while at Unilever he handled hair and home care products. His transition to Kind combines both categories, food and human products, where he will be responsible for carrying out the brand’s mission of making bars with plant-based, nutrient-dense ingredients.
Optional Caption
Courtesy of Kind Snacks
Kind, which was purchased by Mars in 2020, has moved rapidly beyond its core bar to become a broader snacking company. It has expanded into chocolate, soft granola, cereal bars and frozen bars.
Calderoni will advance this ambition as the demand for bars, healthier items and on-the-go products grows — three areas where Kind is a prominent player. “We are excited that he brings a tremendous track record of growth to the KIND business,” Maquivar said. Calderoni will be the third CEO to oversee Kind during the last three years.
