Mondelēz appoints Ziad Abela as General Manager of its operations in Saudi Arabia

Mondelez International (NASDAQ: MDLZ), a leading global snack food company, announced the appointment of Ziad Abela as General Manager of its operations in Saudi Arabia (Mondelez Arabia). This move reflects the company's strong commitment to strengthening its presence in the Saudi market, which is one of its most strategic markets in the Middle East and globally.

Leadership experience spanning a quarter of a century

Ziad Abla has a proven track record of achievements and over 25 years of professional experience within Mondelez, where he held various leadership positions across the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and emerging markets. His career has been characterized by his ability to build highly effective teams and accelerate business growth.

Prior to assuming this pivotal position in the Kingdom, Abla served as General Manager for the Gulf and Emerging Markets region, where he led a strategic repositioning of the company’s business, achieving double-digit growth rates and a tangible increase in market share, in addition to accelerating the shift towards digital commerce.

Strategic context and importance of the Saudi market

This appointment comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing major economic transformations as part of its Vision 2030, making the Saudi market a key focal point for global companies. Mondelez International, which owns a diverse portfolio of renowned brands such as Oreo, Cadbury, and Ritz, recognizes that strengthening its local leadership is crucial to capitalizing on the Kingdom's growing investment opportunities.

This appointment is expected to contribute to deepening the company’s economic impact, not only through increased sales, but also by strengthening local supply chains and raising the efficiency of operational processes, thus supporting food security and ensuring the availability of products with high flexibility and reliability for the Saudi consumer.

Alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030

Ziad Abela will be responsible for leading the company's strategy in full alignment with the objectives of the national vision, and his agenda will focus on several key areas:

• Localization of talent: Investing in young Saudi talent and developing local leaders to ensure business sustainability.
• Expanding product categories: Meeting changing consumer expectations through new innovations and products.
• Sustainability: Supporting renewable energy initiatives and promoting responsible environmental practices within the company's operations.
• Strengthening partnerships: Building strategic relationships with local partners in the retail and distribution sector.

A future vision for sustainable growth

Commenting on his new role, Ziad Abela affirmed that the Kingdom represents a “market rich with opportunities,” expressing his pride in leading the company’s operations at this pivotal stage. He indicated that the focus will be on achieving sustainable growth that keeps pace with the Kingdom’s comprehensive transformation, while placing paramount importance on business excellence and building a future-ready operating system.

It is worth noting that Abla’s regional experience in overseeing the integration of business operations and supply chains will be a crucial factor in enhancing service levels and quality of execution in the Saudi market, thus consolidating Mondelez’s position as a trusted partner in the food and snack sector.