Mondelēz International, Inc., a global leader in snacking with beloved brands such as Cadbury, OREO, Bournvita and Halls, has appointed Russell Coleman as Senior Director, People Lead for Sub-Saharan Africa. In this role, Russell will lead the people strategy for the Sub-Saharan Africa business, partnering with the leadership team to accelerate growth, strengthen organisational capability and build an inclusive, high-performing culture.
Russell is a seasoned HR leader and business partner who brings more than 25 years of international leadership experience driving organisational transformation, people strategy and business performance across the FMCG, automotive, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries in Africa. Most recently, Russell served as HR Director and Executive Leadership Team board member at Volkswagen Group Africa, where he led an exceptional HR team with oversight of a 4,500+ workforce, spearheading the company’s largest-ever cultural transformation initiative and achieving its highest-ever Top Employer certification rating.
Prior to Volkswagen, Russell held senior leadership roles at Danone Southern Africa, Beiersdorf Southern Africa, AVI Ltd and Parmalat Dairy. Notably, Russell is returning to Mondelēz International, having previously worked in the Cadbury/Kraft Foods business from 2008 to 2012 as Head of HR for South, Central and East Africa, where he played a key role in the Kraft-Cadbury integration and the formation of Mondelēz International.
Commenting on the appointment, Hisham Ezz El Arab, President, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mondelēz International, said:
“We are thrilled to welcome Russell back to the Mondelēz International family. His appointment reflects our deliberate investment in world-class talent and our commitment to building the organisational capability needed to deliver our growth agenda as the undisputed snacking leader in Sub-Saharan Africa. Russell’s decision to return is a powerful testament to the culture, purpose and opportunity we offer as an employer of choice.”
Russell holds a B.Tech in Human Resource Management from Nelson Mandela University and has completed executive development programmes including the Dave Ulrich HR Competencies Workshop through the RBL Institute and an International Coaching Certification. His career began on the factory floor, working as a packer and production operator before progressing through supervisory and commercial roles into Human Resources, giving him a deep appreciation of every part of the business and a belief that lasting success comes from combining strong commercial thinking with engaged people, capable leaders and an inclusive culture.