Mondelez World Travel Retail (WTR) Managing Director Andreas Fehr, one of travel retail confectionery’s most influential figures, will retire at the end of March. He has spent 24 years with Mondelez International and predecessor companies.
Fehr will be succeeded by Jaya Singh, who will take the role of Managing Director WTR, European Export and Business Unit Switzerland (BUCH), from 1 April. Singh will report to Mondelez International Area President Central Europe & EU Central Sales Jürgen Leisse.
Leisse said: “Andreas Fehr’s contribution to Mondelez International for over two decades cannot be overestimated. He established and grew our presence in the travel retail channel to a position of clear category leadership, and delivered many award-winning campaigns and remarkable new initiatives along the way. Andreas has been a trusted and highly respected partner to retailers and airport authorities worldwide. On behalf of Mondelez International, I wish Andreas the very best in his extremely well-deserved retirement.”
Singh has been with the company for over 25 years and has worked in every region, spanning both domestic and travel retail markets. Prior to his current role as Global Sales Director WTR, he was Head of Global Key Accounts and before that Region Director Middle East & Asia Pacific. Singh’s successor will be announced in due course.
Singh has been a Board Member of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) since 2009, and held the position of President of APTRA between 2013 and 2017. He also sat on the board of the Duty Free World Council from 2013 to 2017.
Leisse added: “Succeeding Andreas in his role is Jaya Singh, a very experienced leader of Mondelez International. Singh is well-known in the travel retail industry and a key player in the development of our business in the channel, alongside Andreas and the rest of the leadership team. We look forward to Jaya ushering Mondelez WTR, EE and BUCH into a new era of growth in some of the most dynamic retail markets.”
Saying ‘Fehrwell’ to a travel retail champion |
Fehr said: “The decision to retire is not one I have taken lightly, after what has been an extremely enjoyable and rewarding career with Mondelez. It’s been an honour to work with so many talented partners and friends in the travel retail channel and within Mondelez International, and I’m very proud of the achievements we’ve all witnessed together. 2017 was a record year for our business unit and I am confident that we have appointed the right successor to continue this momentum going forward. I feel that now is the right time for me to step aside, and I now look forward to spending more time with my family, taking up some new hobbies and admiring the development of the amazing travel retail sector from the outside.”
Singh added: “I am both humbled and excited to be given the opportunity to lead probably Mondelez’ most diverse organisation, embracing World Travel Retail, European Export and the Swiss domestic market. The business is in a strong position, with an excellent team in place and a fantastic pipeline of initiatives. With sales across our brands in travel retail at an all-time high in 2017 and seeing the fruits of our efforts to drive total category growth, we have a great base to build on – to address new opportunities, such as those in digital, as well as the many challenges – to unlock new areas of growth with our partners in the Trinity.”
