Mars Petcare UK has appointed Helen Warren-Piper as general manager effective from today (June 10).
Helen was the Mars Petcare UK sales director, where she is responsible for both the marketing and commercial elements of the sales function. She replaces Deri Watkins, who was recently promoted to regional president of Mars Pet Nutrition Europe.
Helen has more than 20 years’ experience in senior sales and marketing roles within the FMCG industry and before joining Mars worked for other high-profile businesses including P&G, United Biscuits and Premier Foods. She has extensive experience in the petcare category through her work at Mars, but also from her time as marketing director for P&G’s UK petcare business.
Helen is a strong champion for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. With a passion for mentoring and helping create the leaders of the future, she is a proud member of Women in Advertising and Communications and a mentor for the Marketing Academy Scholarship Programme.
EXCITED
“I am excited and honoured to be taking on this leadership role at such an important time for the business, as well as for the petcare category and FMCG sector more generally,” she said. “Deri leaves a fantastic legacy and I look forward to picking up the mantle and continuing to drive sustainable, profitable growth.
“We have some truly world-leading brands within our portfolio and my team is focused on driving growth through innovation, quality and purpose-led campaigns that really resonate with our consumers. One of the reasons I love working at Mars Petcare is because our associates are so energised by our purpose of creating a better world for pets, so I’m particularly excited by the task of translating this mission into fun and creative ways that connect back to our core business and brands.”
The Mars UK Pet Nutrition business has seen strong growth in recent years, delivering consistent results across bottom and top line. In addition, the business says it has driven key category growth through ambitious innovation and acquisitions, in particular growing demand for ‘natural’ petfood products. This has included the integration of the biggest natural brand in the UK, James Wellbeloved, as well as the launch of new brands to the portfolio, including Crave and Nutro.
Central to the business’s work has been the development of its Better World for Pets campaign in the UK, which encompasses everything from supporting its employees associates to bring their own pets to work, through to advocating for the inclusion of pet ownership as part of the Government’s strategy to address loneliness in society.
