Volker Kuhn will succeed the soon-to-retire Vinzenz Gruber as executive VP and president for Europe starting 1 April next year. To facilitate a seamless transition, Kuhn will officially join the company on 6 January.
Reporting directly to chair and CEO Dirk Van de Put, Kuhn’s most recent position was as president of Reckitt’s hygiene business. In this capacity, he successfully increased sales by emphasizing innovation, consumer centricity, and category growth. His strategies align closely with current trends in the food and drink industry.
Before his tenure at Reckitt, Kuhn amassed 26 years of experience at Procter & Gamble, where he drove growth through effective business turnarounds across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Cadbury and Milka Growth
Throughout his career, Kuhn has occupied significant roles within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Notably, he led Europe’s Pringles Snacks division for a decade, gaining extensive experience in finance, brand marketing, business development, and general management.
His expertise will be critical in advancing Mondelēz’s core brands, such as Cadbury, Milka, and Oreo, throughout Europe. Furthermore, he will contribute to Mondelēz’s strategy to penetrate additional snacking segments, including bars, cakes, and pastries.
“We’re delighted to welcome Volker Kuhn,” stated Van de Put.
“His breadth and depth of international consumer packaged goods experience, coupled with his track record of impressive results and leadership impact, position him well to accelerate growth in our European region while continuing to strengthen consumer loyalty to our iconic brands.”
Outgoing Mondelēz International Europe Boss
The new head of Europe also brings valuable experience as a non-executive board member of FROSTA AG, a leading company in European frozen food.
Kuhn holds dual German and Swiss citizenship and is fluent in German, English, and French. He earned a master’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Fribourg, equipping him with skills relevant to food distribution trends and food processing technology.
Regarding the outgoing Gruber, Van de Put remarked, “On behalf of team Mondelēz, and especially our European colleagues, I’d like to thank Vince for his strong leadership and passionate dedication in driving commercial and operational excellence, consumer loyalty, and employee development.”
Van de Put also praised Gruber’s role in achieving outstanding results for the business, stating he “set Europe’s operations up for continued growth and success.”
