Mars New Zealand has appointed Emily Dowling as its new GM, following the resignation of Pete Simmons, who will depart the company on January 30.
In her new role, Dowling will oversee the growth and development of the brand’s pet care, snacking, and food portfolios, which include the Whiskas, M&M’s, and Masterfoods brands.
“Emily’s blend of commercial creativity and purpose-driven leadership will put her in great stead in New Zealand,” said Deri Watkins, Europe regional president at Mars Petcare.
Dowling has more than 18 years of experience working in the FMCG sector across Australia and Europe, including Mars PetCare Australia, where she has worked as its marketing director since 2018.
During her tenure, she led the launch of the Temptations brand, developed Mars Australia’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) online store for the Advance brand, and oversaw the first consumer promotion for The Lion’s Share, a global fundraising initiative for the UN Development Program.
“The team here (Mars New Zealand) has always had an outsized impact on Mars’ business globally, particularly on the creative side with groundbreaking campaigns like My Hooman, our pet adoption platform,” said Dowling.
“They’ve also demonstrated best-in-class agility in managing supply chain challenges in recent years, and I’m committed to driving that consistency for our retail partners and consumers.”
Anthony Dean will succeed Dowling as Mars Petcare Australia’s marketing director, relocating back to Australia after serving as the cat portfolio director for Mars Petcare Europe.
Meanwhile, Simmons departs Mars after 16 years with the company. During the past five, as GM, he led a refocusing of the business on growth priorities, partnering with customers across different channels, and establishing digital commerce in the company – all while leading the business during the pandemic.
