Mars Australia & New Zealand has appointed Karim Lokhandwala as chief customer officer of its petcare division, effective June 1.
Lokhandwala joins the consumer goods manufacturer following more than 15 years at Procter & Gamble (P&G), where he held senior sales and leadership positions across international markets, including Pakistan, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.
As P&G’s GM of sales for grocery, club, and discounters, he managed commercial strategy and customer growth initiatives.
In his new role, Lokhandwala will manage the Mars Petcare sales organisation across ANZ.
His remit includes directing commercial operations for the company’s major pet food brands, which include Pedigree, Whiskas, My Dog, and Dine.
“Karim is a highly experienced leader with a strong long-term strategic lens on building category leadership,” said Melodie Nye, MD and GM for Mars Petcare ANZ.
“He inspires teams to think differently and challenge traditional growth models, which are essential for us as we continue to evolve our own business to better meet the changing needs of pet parents.”
In March, Mars Petcare was cleared over a Pedigree dog food ad after a consumer complaint.
