Dirk Van de Put

Dirk Van de Put is a prominent Belgian businessman, currently serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mondelēz International, a leading global snacking company known for its brands such as Oreo, Cadbury, and Toblerone. He has held the CEO position since November 2017 and became Chairman in April 2018.

Early Life and Education

Born on May 14, 1960, in Mechelen, Belgium, Van de Put earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Ghent and a postgraduate degree in business administration from the University of Antwerp. He is fluent in multiple languages, including Dutch, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Career Path

Van de Put's career spans over three decades in various leadership roles across several multinational companies:

• Mars Inc.: He began his career at Mars, where he held various sales and marketing positions across Europe and Latin America.
• Coca-Cola Company: He served as President of Coca-Cola Caribbean and Vice President of Value Chain Management in Brazil.
• Groupe Danone: He worked for over ten years at Danone, ultimately becoming President of the Americas Division.
• Novartis AG: He was President of the Global Over-the-Counter Division before moving to McCain Foods.
• McCain Foods: From 2010 to 2017, he was President and CEO, leading significant growth during his tenure.

In 2017, Van de Put joined Mondelēz International, where he has focused on driving organic revenue growth and enhancing sustainability initiatives within the company.

Leadership Style and Achievements

Under his leadership, Mondelēz has aimed for a long-term growth strategy that emphasizes empowering consumers to "snack right." His tenure has seen an increase in advertising spend and greater autonomy for local marketing teams. The company reported a notable growth rate of 4.2% in the third quarter of 2019.

Board Memberships

In addition to his role at Mondelēz, Van de Put serves on the board of The Consumer Goods Forum and previously held directorships at companies like Mattel and Keurig Dr Pepper.

Personal Life

Dirk Van de Put holds dual citizenship in Belgium and the United States. He is married with two sons.

Recent Controversies

In recent months, Van de Put has faced scrutiny over allegations regarding child labor practices in cocoa sourcing for Mondelēz products. Additionally, he defended the company's operations in Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, stating that leaving would benefit adversarial entities more than it would help local communities or shareholders.123