Mondelēz International appoints Hisham Ezz El-Arab as President of Sub-Saharan Africa
The announcement signals a strategic boost for the region’s operations amid rising consumer demand for premium confectionery and snacks.
SOUTH AFRICA – Mondelēz International, a leading global snacking company with iconic brands such as Cadbury, OREO, Bournvita and Halls, has officially announced the appointment of Hisham Ezz El-Arab as its new President for the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) business unit.
The strategic move comes at a pivotal time for the company as it seeks to accelerate its growth trajectory across Africa, a region increasingly central to the multinational’s long-term expansion plans.
Hisham joins Mondelēz with a distinguished 32-year career in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, having held senior leadership roles at industry giants such as Danone and Procter & Gamble.
His extensive background includes a proven track record of steering large-scale organizations through complex market transformations and accelerating business growth.
Most recently, he served as the Regional Vice President for Asia, the Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) at Danone, overseeing operations spanning from Morocco to the Philippines and from Russia to South Africa.
In his new capacity, Hisham will oversee the strategic direction of Mondelēz International’s diverse portfolio in SSA. This includes iconic brands such as Cadbury, OREO, Halls, and Bournvita.
His expertise in operational excellence and his commitment to fostering high-performing, inclusive corporate cultures are expected to be the primary drivers as the company navigates the unique challenges and opportunities of the Sub-Saharan market.
“This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Mondelēz International SSA business unit in one of the world’s fastest-expanding consumer markets,” Hisham stated in a company release.
He emphasized that the brand’s strong positioning and irresistible taste, combined with entrenched distribution channels and local talent, create a solid foundation for a multi-year growth trajectory.
Under Hisham’s leadership, the company aims to deepen its engagement with local consumers while enhancing supply chain efficiencies across the 20 countries within his mandate.
His appointment signals a renewed focus on regional specialization and the “localization of global power,” ensuring that heritage brands like Cadbury Dairy Milk continue to resonate with a new generation of African consumers.
The company’s regional headquarters in Johannesburg will serve as the hub for this new era of operational transformation and consumer-centric innovation.
His appointment follows the appointment of Ziad Abla as Managing Director of Mondelēz Saudi Arabia, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In the full-year 2025, the snacks and confectionery giant reported a 5.8% increase in net revenue to US$38.5 billion, supported by organic net revenue growth of 4.3% driven primarily by higher pricing, partly offset by lower volume and mix.
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