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Mondelēz International has appointed long-serving finance chief Luca Zaramella as chief operating officer in addition to his role as chief financial officer, consolidating operational and financial control as the Oreo and Cadbury owner sharpens execution across its global business.
Zaramella, who has been CFO since 2018, will assume responsibility for Mondelēz’s commercial operations across its four geographic regions, as well as corporate sales, marketing and supply chain functions. The appointment takes effect on 1 February, and the company says it has already launched a search for a successor CFO.
The move comes as global food and beverage manufacturers continue to face volatile commodity markets, rising labour and logistics costs, and increasing pressure to deliver profitable growth while investing in supply chain resilience and brand-led innovation.
By combining the COO and CFO roles, Mondelēz appears to be placing greater emphasis on tighter alignment between financial discipline and operational execution – a strategy increasingly adopted by consumer goods companies seeking faster decision-making and clearer accountability across pricing, procurement and go-to-market strategies.
Chief executive Dirk Van de Put said Zaramella’s expanded remit would help the group “raise the bar on operational excellence” in what he described as an increasingly dynamic environment.
"I am confident that Luca is the right leader to further elevate our execution and accelerate our performance as we realise the promise of our growth agenda,” he added.
Zaramella has played a central role in shaping Mondelēz’s growth framework and financial targets, overseeing global finance, procurement, technology and shared services.
His experience spans senior leadership roles across Latin America, Europe and North America, regions that account for the bulk of the company’s revenue and volume growth.
For suppliers, co-manufacturers and ingredient partners, the leadership change could signal a continued focus on cost efficiency, procurement discipline and supply chain optimisation, alongside commercial execution in core snacking categories such as biscuits, chocolate and baked snacks.
Mondelēz reported net revenues of around $36.4 billion in 2024, driven by brands including Oreo, Ritz, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka. The company operates in more than 150 countries and has repeatedly flagged pricing, mix and productivity gains as key levers to offset inflationary pressures.
“I’m honoured to step into this role for Mondelēz, expanding my focus on executional excellence and commercial performance across our organisation,” Zaramella added. “I am inspired by our people, brands and capabilities, with vast potential to deliver attractive, long-lasting growth and create value for years to come.”
