Mars Inc.’s Food & Nutrition Business has named Dave Dusangh as regional president for North America and Hans Bakker as regional general manager in Europe.
These appointments are intended to build on the company’s momentum and drive ongoing growth and innovation in the food and nutrition business. Dusangh and Bakker will report to Global President of Mars Food and Nutrition Shaid Shah and will begin these roles immediately.
“I am confident that Dave and Hans will continue to strengthen our business and brands, enhancing the value we deliver to our customers and consumers in their respective regions,” Shah said.
“Their appointments highlight our dedication to investing in our talent as a foundational principle delivering strong business performance enabling our inspiring purpose: ‘Better Food Today. A Better World Tomorrow.’ I look forward to working with them in their new capacities.”
Dusangh
Before assuming his new position, Dusangh was the regional general manager for Mars Food & Nutrition Europe where he drove transformation and growth in the region.
Dusangh started at Mars in 2011 with Mars Pet Nutrition Canada and moved on to lead Mars Food & Nutrition Canada in 2016. In 2018, he also became general manager of Tasty Bite North America and joined the board of Tasty Bite Eatables in India, a position he continues to hold.
He has expertise in customer relationships and team leadership. In his new role leading Mars Food & Nutrition North America, he will oversee brands including Ben’s Original, Seeds Of Change and Tasty Bite.
“I am honored to lead the Mars Food & Nutrition North American business and look forward to working with our talented associates as we move towards accelerated growth,” Dusangh said. “My focus will be on strengthening our position as a leader in the category and continuing to deliver delicious, convenient and nutritious meals to meet the evolving needs of today’s consumers.”
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Bakker
Hans Bakker takes on his new role with a brand portfolio that includes Ben’s Original, Dolmio and Suzi Wan.
Bakker has worked for Mars for more than 20 years. Since 2021, he has been VP of global transformation for Mars Food & Nutrition where he has led transformational programs to drive growth and productivity across the 30 countries in which the company operates.
Prior to his global role, Bakker held sales and marketing roles before becoming general manager of Mars Food & Nutrition Germany. His ability to tackle complex challenges and develop talent makes him the ideal leader to continue momentum in Europe.
“Europe is a vibrant and diverse region, brimming with rich cultures and culinary traditions. I cannot wait to work with our passionate associates across the region to drive growth with our customers, bring our purpose to life and provide healthy, nutritious meals for our consumers,” Bakker said.
