Building Global Brands Through Local Insight

I joined Mondelēz, Kraft Foods at that time, as an accountant in 2009. I spent the next few years in the Finance department in various roles in the East Adriatic region. Ever since the first day, I have always wanted to be part of the commercial team; this is where my passion lies. In 2014, I got my chance as a Sales Analyst and Category Planning Assistant for the Southeast Adriatic markets, namely Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia. A few years and a couple of promotions later, I found myself in the role of Country Manager for Cyprus, responsible for developing the Mondelez brands in the country. As in most similar roles, my focus is on defining and executing market and customer strategy, as well as in-store activation plans. But for me, the most important element of this role is the one that has to do with people. Building teams, strengthening sales force capabilities, and cultivating strong and fruitful relationships with our partners is what makes this role so rewarding.

I am lucky to be working for a company with a portfolio full of consumer-favorite brands that span the world over. Leading a global brand in a one local market sounds like a simple thing to do, the reality is far from simple. While our brands have a global appeal, consumers are different in each market, with distinct needs, habits and preferences. Thoroughly understanding what makes the consumer tick, in each market, and in this case, Cyprus, is the key to driving growth.

Adapting Strategy and Leading through Change

At Mondelēz, we operate on strong business fundamentals and prioritize understanding our consumers and being close to our customers. Keeping up with the evolving trends is a prerequisite for the above. These were the guiding principles I followed when starting on the Country Manager role in Cyprus and the ones my team and I continue to work on. We are not implementing major shifts but rather reinforcing our core values and adjusting as per market needs; this is how we develop sustainable growth.

Challenges are an inherent part of any era, and uncertainty has increasingly become a constant in our daily lives. For me, embracing change and skillfully navigating it is the only way forward. My approach, both professionally and personally, involves learning from both past successes and failures, keeping calm, and consistently performing at my best every day. And finally, I find it imperative to prioritize what we can influence as individuals, as a team and as a company.

Adapting Strategy and Leading through Change

Trust and consistency are key. Start by intensely listening to your teams, your customers and your partners. Spend time in the market, do your research and understand your consumers. Build trusting relationships and surround yourself with a strong team. Dream big, and the rest will follow!