Mars Petcare names new executive to pet nutrition leadership team

Mars Petcare recently appointed Alejandro (Alex) Cedeno to the Mars Pet Nutrition North America leadership team, a division of Mars Petcare. Cedeno will serve as senior vice president of research and development (R&D) to help improve the pet nutrition business through disruption and innovation, while supporting the company's stated mission: "a better world for pets."

"Alex is a people-first leader with a disruptive and innovative mindset," expressed Ikdeep Singh, global president, Mars Pet Nutrition, in a company release.¹ "A better world for pets is our purpose. It is core to everything we do and I'm confident that his global knowledge, passion for people and pets, and expertise in pet food innovation will make him an immeasurable asset to our Pet Nutrition R&D team."

According to the release, Cedeno has more than 28 years of global R&D experience throughout consumer packaged goods categories. Before this role, he was the vice president, research and development of pet food and snacks at The J.M. Smucker Company. Prior to Smucker, Cedeno held R&D and innovation positions at Mead WestVaco (now WestRock) and Procter & Gamble in North America, Europe, and South America.

At Mars Petcare, Cedeno will offer strategic and operational leadership to R&D throughout quality and food safety, product, process and packaging innovation, renovation and productivity, sustainability, and regulatory and scientific affairs.¹ A member of the global Mars Petcare R&D leadership team, he will additionally help develop and drive global R&D strategies, engage in the development of the innovation pipeline for the company's pet nutrition brands, and manage the deployment of science and technology in the region.

Cedeno achieved a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and earned his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology as Magna Cum Laude. Cedeno is also avid for the arts and their role in education, serving as the founding executive director and past president and chairman of the Board of Dancing Classrooms Greater Richmond, a nonprofit program that fostered critical life skills in elementary and middle school children via the practice of social dance. In previous years, he was the chair of the artistic development committee of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and was on the Board of Directors of the Latin Ballet of Virginia.

"I'm honored to be joining Mars Petcare, a company that is focused on delivering its purpose with a dynamic team of associates who are committed to making life better for pets and pet parents," commented Cedeno, in the release. "R&D continues to transform the way we deliver on pet health through food and I'm looking forward to partnering with the team to accelerate our pet nutrition growth aspirations."

Cedeno fulfilling this role followed the retirement of Michel Oostwal, senior vice president of R&D for Mars Pet Nutrition North America, this month. Oostwal’s made plenty of strides in his 12 years with the company, such as the debut of its first Global Innovation Center in the United States and leading product transformation and innovation throughout the pet food realm. Since April, Oostwal has supported Cedeno's onboarding since he became a member of the team in April for a successful transition.

Reference

Mars Petcare appoints new executive to pet nutrition leadership team. News release. Mars Petcare. August 30, 2022. Accessed August 31, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mars-petcare-appoints-new-executive-to-pet-nutrition-leadership-team-301614438.html