
Africa’s economic reset requires moving from ambition to execution
The Africa Commerce Convergence Summit keynote address identified four elements that must converge if the continent is to achieve a meaningful economic reset.
EXECUTIVE APPPOINTMENTS
By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2026
Hisham Ezz El-Arab joins from Danone, where he most recently led operations in the Asia, Middle East and Africa region.
Global FMCG company Mondelēz International has appointed Hisham Ezz El-Arab as President of its sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) business unit.
Mondelēz is a major multinational food and beverage company specialising in snacks, confectionery, biscuits and beverages. Its brand portfolio includes Chappies bubble gum, Chomp, Lunch Bar, Dentyne chewing gum and Cadbury Dairy Milk.
Hisham Ezz El-Arab. Photo: LinkedIn
Ezz Al-Arab comes with extensive experience in the food business and will be responsible for guiding the strategic direction of operations in the SSA region.
He joins Mondelēz International with 32 years of leadership experience in businesses such as Danone and Procter & Gamble.
In charge of business acceleration and strategic growth
Most recently, he served as Regional Vice President for Asia, the Middle East and Africa (AMEA) at Danone, in charge of business acceleration and strategic growth across a region spanning Morocco to the Philippines and from Russia to South Africa.
During his career at Danone, Ezz Al-Arab worked across countries such as France, Turkey, Egypt, the Philippines, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. In all, he has led large-scale organisations in 20 countries across three continents.
“Over the course of his career, he has managed a range of mandates – high growth businesses, turn-arounds, joint ventures and start-ups. He is passionate about transforming organisations and building winning corporate cultures,” Mondelēz says in a statement.
Comments Ezz Al-Arab: “This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Mondelēz International SSA business unit in one of the world’s fastest-expanding consumer markets.
“I believe our strong brands across our multiple categories are well-positioned for a multi-year growth trajectory, based on their unique positioning, irresistible taste, entrenched distribution channels and the remarkable talent we have in SSA.”

The Africa Commerce Convergence Summit keynote address identified four elements that must converge if the continent is to achieve a meaningful economic reset.

Vongani Mageza brings more than 20 years’ experience across financial services and FMCG) companies such as FNB and Diageo.

AI agents will influence shopping, algorithms will supersede social connections, and the clip economy will change how brands connect.

The brand partnership includes a new TV commercial featuring Kipchoge, digital storytelling, wellness initiatives and community programmes.

Modern retail in Africa is still dwarfed by the traditional trade. Marketers who dismiss this relationship-heavy retail model do so at their peril.

Research finds brands don’t just sell products. They can also provide employees with stories through which they feel their work is meaningful

Honesty must be demonstrated through transparency, accountability and action – shaping both reputation and future trust following a crisis.

In the funeral plan category, where most advertisements look like an obituary, Standard Lesotho Bank opted to ‘sell the cow’, not the policy.

Strategic Marketing for Africa, the publication for deep-thinking African marketing professionals, is not to be missed.

CEO of Scopen says the expansion into East Africa is a natural progression following the success of the research in South Africa.

Report says around 80% of Africa’s annual goods export potential to the Caribbean remains untapped.