Mars International Travel Retail (ITR) Global Customer Development Director Marcus Hudson is to switch to the role of Sales Director ITR. He will take up his new position on 17 January.
Reporting to General Manager Jack Tabbers, Hudson succeeds Raghav Rekhi, who will take up a new role for Mars in Dubai.
Hudson – described by his employer as a seasoned professional with deep knowledge of the travel retail industry – is tasked with leading the continued recovery of Mars Wrigley’s global travel retail business. In his new capacity he will join Mars’ Netherlands/ITR leadership team.
He began his career as Trade Marketing Executive in global travel retail for British American Tobacco in 2007, going on to perform a variety of senior roles at the company.
He joined the Mars business in 2016 as Customer Effectiveness Manager in ITR and was promoted to his current role in 2019.
Mars said Hudson’s achievements within travel retail are diverse including implementing Mars Wrigley’s current customer-centric structure. According to the company, his achievements include building a very high engagement level within his team during the pandemic, and building strong relationships with airport retailers in the recovery period.
Tabbers said: “Taking this opportunity, I would sincerely like to thank Raghav Rekhi, whose assignment with NL/ITR will end on 15 January, when he will return to his home unit of Dubai.”
Rekhi moved to the Netherlands in 2018 to join Mars ITR first as Marketing Director and later as Sales Director. The company credits him with demonstrating leadership in simplifying Mars Wrigley’s portfolio and driving the unit’s growth.
Most recently, Mars said that Rekhi has overseen recovery in travel retail, which has put it ahead of the category recovery rate.
Tabbers added: “Throughout his work, Raghav’s commitment to delivering results, his passion for developing talent, coupled with a strong collaborative approach and ambassadorship of our culture have shone through and he will be much missed by the unit.”
