McLean, Va./Press Release -- Debra A. Sandler has been named chief health and wellbeing officer for Mars Incorporated, and Tracey Massey will step up into the role Sandler previously held as the acting president, Mars Chocolate, North America.

 

The creation of the chief health & wellbeing officer role is a reflection of the strategic priority that Health & Wellbeing represents for Mars. As a large global food business, Mars’ objective is to provide affordable and tasty food that helps feed the world’s growing population, while at the same time partnering with others to tackle challenges including global food security, safety and quality. The company’s approach has focused on helping consumers make informed choices, improving the nutritional value of its portfolio, conducting scientific research into nutrition, and working to promote active, healthy lifestyles. This has led to significant steps including leadership in nutritional labeling, commitment to a 250 calorie cap on single servings of its confectionery products and the development and implementation of the industry leading Mars Marketing Code.

 

“When we reorganized into our business Segments in 2008, we concentrated our health and wellness efforts within those Segments to address the diversity of our product portfolios in Chocolate, Petcare, Food, Wrigley, Drinks and Mars Symbioscience,” said Grant F. Reid, co-president of Mars Incorporated. “Great work has gone on across our businesses under this strategy. This newly created role will help accelerate that progress by creating a comprehensive cross-segment strategy that will drive change across our businesses. Debra will lead our Health & Wellbeing platform through collaboration with our Segments and by leveraging our significant lessons learned in this space to date, including depth of consumer insights, data and nutritional research within our segments. Debra has been a change agent in the area of Health & Wellness, shepherding innovative product options like the lower calorie per pack M&M’S® Pretzel variety, demonstrating industry leadership as a member of the Board of the Healthy Weight Commitment and by calling for industry change in her 2013 State of the Industry Speech at the National Confectioner’s Association.”

 

Sandler joined Mars in 2009 as chief consumer officer for Mars Chocolate North America and was promoted to president of Mars Chocolate North America in 2012. She holds a degree in International Trade from Hofstra University and earned her MBA from New York University. Prior to joining Mars, Sandler served as worldwide president - McNeil’s Nutritionals LLC, with Johnson & Johnson. She will report to David Kamenetzky, VP Corporate Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, and will work closely with the Mars Leadership Team and the board of directors.

 

Mars also announced that Tracey Massey, chief financial officer of Mars Global Chocolate, has been appointed to acting president of Mars Chocolate North America.

 

“Tracey has done a superb job of leading Strategy & Finance for the global Chocolate business for more than five years,” said Reid. “During her time as Chocolate CFO, Tracey has demonstrated particular excellence in shaping the vision and strategy, and has led our Chocolate growth in emerging markets across the world. Tracey has demonstrated a passion for developing Associates and is widely recognized as a unifying leader of the CFOs across the Chocolate business. I have complete confidence that she will transition into this new role brilliantly,” said Reid.