Ferrero appoints Alessandro Natola as Canadian business president
The Ferrero global confectionery group has confirmed the appointment of Alessandro Natola as president of its Canadian business, reports Neill Barston.
As the company revealed, he will lead the region’s unit in focusing on key strategic goals driving innovation in new categories, channel growth, and market leadership.
Natola will report to Paul Chibe, president and CEO, Ferrero NorthAmerica, as the business also continues its expansion of operations within the US.
The increase in its activity in the region has been marked by the recent creation of five new distribution facilities that have enabled the business to improve its market share, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
For his part, Natola was previously managing director for Ferrero Scandinavia. During his four years in that role, he led a team that grew the business by 40 per cent.
Over his 13-year tenure with Ferrero, he has held various roles in several European countries, spanning strategic planning, brand marketing, business development, and category and trade marketing. Prior to joining Ferrero, Natola worked in the telecommunications industry in Italy and with Accenture as a Business Analyst. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business and Economics from the Luiss Business School in Italy.
“North America is a strategic growth market for the Ferrero Group. With the region’s growing brand portfolio and innovation pipeline, Natola’s global experience, strategic mindset and proven track-record will be critical in achieving our growth ambitions,” said Chibe.
Natola replaces Rudy Sequeira, who had been in the position since 2016. A veteran Ferrero Group leader, Sequeira has held multiple roles within Ferrero since joining in 2001 and will take on a new international assignment for the company.
“I want to thank Rudy for his many accomplishments and unwavering commitment to the business during his time in Canada,” said Chibe. “Under his leadership, he improved market effectiveness, brand health and growth, increased visibility, and grew net sales annually. I look forward to seeing how he will continue to drive the Ferrero business in his next role.”
Natola will also join the North American Leadership Team. “I’m proud to join Ferrero Canada and to work with this talented group of professionals to continue growing our presence in Canada,” said Natola. “We have an impressive legacy of product excellence, market growth, and commercial integrity that provides a solid foundation from which to grow. I look forward to collaborating with our retail partners, government stakeholders, and the communities where we live and work.”
