Barry Callebaut creates new chief digital officer role, driving tech-led ambitions
Amr Arafa is joining Barry Callebaut as chief digital officer in January. Pic: Neill Barston
Barry Callebaut has strengthened its core focus on its technical development in appointing Amr Arafa as chief digital officer for the business, aimed at helping deliver strategic growth targets, writes Neill Barston.
As the company revealed earlier this month, it is set to place considerable strategic investment into delivering its digital transformation goals, alongside its core programmes relating to sustainability and enhancing its portfolio.
Notably, its recent release of its Second Generation chocolate, drawing inspiration from artisan chocolate processing methods, has been hailed as a game-changer for the business, as it moves into 2024.
According to the company, Amr Arafa, 45, is set to join the business in January. He will be responsible for ensuring the company is an agile, tech-enabled organisation supporting its growth strategy. In this newly created position, he reports directly to CEO Peter Feld and joins the Extended Leadership Team of Barry Callebaut.
As the company explained, its newly appointed digital officer has acquired profound expertise in digital transformation in his previous positions. He joins the business from IKEA, where he served as chief data officer for over four years.
Throughout his career, he has led various, large strategic digital transformation programs, including at Mondelez International. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT), Egypt, and a Master of Science in e-Business Management from the University of Warwick, UK.
Peter Feld, CEO of the Barry Callebaut Group, welcomed the appointment. He said: “We are very pleased that Amr joins Barry Callebaut. As part of our BC Next Level program, we have committed to developing an agile, tech-enabled organization. This will not only benefit us internally at Barry Callebaut, but also will enable a seamless integration across our entire value chain – from our customers all the way to our cocoa farmers. With Amr, we have the right person on board to help us advance this digital transformation.