Mars has appointed Melodie Nye as Managing Director and General Manager for Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) in its Pet Nutrition division.

She succeeds Craig Sargeant, who will move into a new role as Global Vice President for Strategic Revenue Management.

Nye is currently Chief Growth Officer for Mars Pet Nutrition Europe and has been with the company for more than 12 years. She has held senior roles in marketing, innovation and leadership across Europe and the United States. Before joining Mars, she worked at Kraft Foods and served as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force.

Nye said that growing with a business that champions bold innovation, meaningful community impact, and a future-focused approach to pet nutrition has been a privilege.

“I’m energised by the opportunity to build on this momentum and how we stay ahead of the curve by strengthening our role as a trusted partner to customers and continuing to delight and meet the needs of pet parents across Australia and New Zealand.”

Deri Watkins, Mars Pet Nutrition Regional President, Developed APAC, said the appointment reflects the strength of Mars leadership globally.

“Australia and New Zealand are among the most pet-loving countries in the world, with over 60 per cent of households owning at least one pet. That pet passion presents a huge opportunity for us to keep evolving and meeting the growing expectations of pet parents.

“Melodie is a bold, purpose-driven leader who looks at things differently, especially when it comes to how we meet the changing needs of pet parents and the fast-moving world of pet nutrition. She really gets what today’s consumers expect, and that makes her perfectly placed to strengthen our customer partnerships and keep delivering the trusted, innovative products and brands that pet parents want and expect into the future.”

To stay up to date on the latest industry headlines, sign up to the Pet Industry News e-newsletter.