EXECUTIVE APPPOINTMENTS

Mondelēz appoints experienced FMCG exec to head its business in SSA

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.”

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