DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Mondelez International will tap a former Coca-Cola Co. executive to become executive vice president and president of its North America division. Glen Walter will take on the role effective this month.
In this position, Walter will be responsible for leading the company’s $7 billion U.S. and Canadian businesses, which includes brands such as Oreo, belVita biscuits, Triscuit and Good Thins crackers, Trident gum and Halls cough drops.
Joining Deerfield, Ill.-based Mondelez from the Coca-Cola Co., where he held a variety of leadership positions over the past decade, Walter, 49, said he’s eager to “begin working with the leadership team to grow the North American business on both the top and bottom lines. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to shape the future for our unparalleled portfolio of iconic brands.”
Since 2014, he served as CEO of Coca-Cola Industries China, where he led his team to accelerate revenue growth, improve productivity and expand routes to market. Before this, Walter was president and COO of Coca-Cola in North America.
“[Walter] is an inspirational leader with an impressive track record of building brands and driving growth in North America and beyond,” said company Chairman and CEO Irene Rosenfeld. “His deep operating experience in complex businesses, including a strong focus on sales excellence, makes him a terrific leader for our North America region.”
The company is also making other executive moves effective Jan. 1, 2018. Valerie Oswalt was named president of North American confectionery, while Matthew Eckard assumes the position of president of North American sales. Oswalt is currently president of North American sales.
Both Walter and Oswalt will be tasked with continuing the company's upward trajectory, which has lately seen it leading market share in every category in which it competes—holding down top spots globally in biscuits and confection and the No. 2 position in gum, according to Euromonitor.
Oswalt is a “proven leader” within the organization, said Rosenfeld, with a career spanning more than two decades with the company. “[Oswalt] brings a strong track record of success, with roles of increasing responsibility across many functions, including sales, finance and integrated supply chain.”
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