MCLEAN, Va. -- Bob Gamgort, longtime North American president of snack food giant Mars Inc., has resigned, executives familiar with the matter told Ad Age.
It is unclear where Gamgort, one of the most respected marketers in the business, will land next, and whether a replacement has been named, said the report; Mars did not immediately respond to calls for comment, the publication said.
In his role, Gamgort oversaw Mars' multibillion-dollar snack food, pet care and main meal businesses in the United States and Canada. The company recently boosted its confection [image-nocss] business following its merger with Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. The combined company's brands include M&M's, Snickers, Dove, Mars, Orbit, Extra, Doublemint, Uncle Ben's, Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin and Banfield. Other Wrigley brands include Wrigley's Spearmint, Juicy Fruit, Altoids, Life Savers, Big Red, Boomer, Pim Pom, Winterfresh, Freedent, Hubba Bubba, Excel, Creme Savers, Eclipse, Airwaves, Solano, Sugus, P.K., Cool Air and 5.
Gamgort launched his marketing career at Kraft Foods, and later spent time managing advertising, sponsorship and national events at Major League Baseball.
He joined McLean, Va.-based Mars in 1998 as vice president of marketing for the U.S. Snackfoods division and in 2002 was promoted to North American president.
Gamgort is credited with much of the marketer's success, known for undertaking dramatic moves when necessary. When sales of Snickers began faltering a few years ago, for example, he moved out the 20-year veteran and snack food head Martyn Wilks, said the report.
Meanwhile, the company has rolled out new packaging for its Skittles and Snickers Dark candies.
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