Mars Snacking Names João Belo Global VP of Corporate Affairs

João Belo will join Mars, Incorporated as Global Vice President, Corporate Affairs for Mars Snacking on January 4, 2027, the company confirmed. Belo will report directly to Andrew Clarke, Global President of Mars Snacking, and will hold seats on both the Mars Snacking Leadership Team and the Mars global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team.

The hire lands at a pivotal moment for Mars Snacking, which expanded dramatically through its acquisition of Kellanova — bringing brands such as Pringles®, Cheez-It®, Pop-Tarts®, and KIND® alongside legacy Mars properties including SNICKERS®, M&M'S®, and SKITTLES®. Based on combined Mars and Kellanova 2025 net sales, Mars, Incorporated is now a $65 billion family-owned business, and the Corporate Affairs function Belo will inherit must navigate the reputational complexity that comes with that scale.

Belo's Background

Belo brings more than 30 years of experience spanning journalism, communications, public affairs, and brand-building. He joins from Danaher Corporation, where he served as Chief Communications Officer, overseeing global communications, philanthropy, community impact, and the integration of generative AI into communications workflows. Before Danaher, he led digital and communications transformation as Senior Vice President, Global Communications at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and earlier held global public affairs roles at AbbVie — including through that company's acquisition and integration of Allergan. His international footprint covers the U.S., Europe, Japan, and emerging markets, with sector experience in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and telecommunications.

For foodservice operators and food and beverage industry observers, the appointment signals that Mars Snacking intends to invest heavily in the narrative work required to consolidate the Kellanova brands under a coherent global identity. Clarke described Belo's experience as essential not only to Mars's growth agenda but also to building consumer trust and deepening relationships with retail, foodservice, and community partners — audiences that matter directly to operators sourcing Mars Snacking products.

What It Means for Operators

As the snacking and foodservice supply chain continues to feel the downstream effects of large-scale CPG consolidation, a dedicated global corporate affairs leader for Mars Snacking could mean more consistent messaging around ingredient sourcing, sustainability commitments, and community investment — areas that increasingly influence operator purchasing decisions. Andy Pharoah, Global Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability for Mars, Incorporated, noted that Belo's ability to modernize communications across complex industries will support the company's purpose-led growth agenda.

"I am excited to be joining Mars Snacking at such a transformational time for the business," Belo said, pointing to both the internal demands of significant organizational change and the external opportunity to grow Mars Snacking's presence across global markets.

Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.