Mars Inc. Makes Executive Changes

Mars Inc. has made a number of leadership changes among its executive ranks.

Poul Weihrauch has been named president, Mars global petcare, effective Jan. 1, 2015, following current President Todd Lachman's decision to leave the company at the end of this year.

Lachman has been with Mars for more than eight years, having also led the Chocolate North American and Latin America businesses before taking on his current role.

Weihrauch, who is currently global president, Mars Food, with accountability for Mars Drink and European Multisales, will be replaced by Fiona Dawson, current regional president of chocolate UK and global retail.

Joining Mars in 1988, Dawson helmed the UK chocolate business beginning in 2005 and has since also added responsibility of the Mars retail group.

Andrew Clarke, current regional president, petcare for Latin America, will become Mars' new chief customer officer and a member of the Mars leadership team, effective Feb. 15. Clarke began with the company in 2000 in UK sales and has taken on roles on the pet specialty, impulse and grocery teams.

Bruce McColl, Mars’ chief marketing officer, has also joined the company's leadership team. McColl joined Mars in 1992 in Australia as a brand manager, and has worked across Mars’ business brands, categories and geographies.

“We are thrilled to have such great talent within the organization and proud of the growth that these leaders have demonstrated over the years,” said Grant F. Reid, office of the president, McLean, Va.-based Mars, Inc. “These great leaders have an average of more than 19 years of experience in leadership at Mars, and they are a testament to how well our development programs at Mars works.”