Mondelēz International appoints Volker Kuhn as president for Europe

EUROPE – Mondelēz International (Nasdaq: MDLZ) has announced the appointment of Volker Kuhn as Executive Vice President and President of Europe, effective April 1, 2025.

Kuhn will succeed Vinzenz Gruber, who has announced his retirement from the company on the same date. To ensure a seamless transition, Kuhn will join Mondelēz on January 6, 2025, partnering with Gruber in the months leading up to his new role.

Kuhn brings a wealth of experience to Mondelēz, having most recently led Reckitt’s hygiene business, its largest global unit.

During his tenure, he drove significant top- and bottom-line growth by focusing on innovation, consumer needs, and category expansion. Previously, he served as Reckitt’s Chief Transformation Officer, further solidifying his reputation for delivering impactful business results.

Before joining Reckitt, Kuhn spent 26 years at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where he spearheaded numerous growth accelerations, business transformations, and turnarounds across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa.

Among his many accomplishments was overseeing the successful divestiture of Duracell to Berkshire Hathaway and leading the European operations of the Pringles Snacks division for over a decade. His cross-functional expertise spans finance, brand marketing, business development, and general management, making him a versatile leader in the consumer goods sector.

Dirk Van de Put, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Mondelēz International, expressed his confidence in Kuhn’s ability to steer the European business to greater heights.

 “We’re delighted to welcome Volker Kuhn to our Mondelēz International family. His breadth and depth of international consumer packaged goods experience, coupled with his track record of impressive results and leadership impact, position him well to accelerate growth in our European region while continuing to strengthen consumer loyalty to our iconic brands,” Van de Put said.

Kuhn also serves as Chairman and a Non-Executive Board member of FROSTA AG, a prominent European frozen food company.

Fluent in German, English, and French, he holds a master’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Fribourg and has dual German and Swiss citizenship.

As Kuhn steps into his new role, Mondelēz also takes a moment to honor the contributions of Vinzenz Gruber, who has been instrumental in the company’s success.

During his tenure, Gruber strengthened the European market presence of core brands such as Cadbury, Milka, and Oreo while expanding the business into new segments like snack bars, cakes, and pastries.

 “On behalf of Team Mondelēz, and especially our European colleagues, I’d like to thank Vince for his strong leadership and passionate dedication in driving commercial and operational excellence, consumer loyalty, and employee development,” Van de Put added.

Mondelēz International, a global leader in snacking, operates in over 150 countries with iconic brands like Oreo, Ritz, LU, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka, and Toblerone. In 2023, the company reported net revenues of approximately US$36 billion, underscoring its commitment to “snacking right” and delivering high-quality products worldwide.

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