Taking the reins to lead the future of snacking in the Philippines
Mondelēz International, one of the fastest growing snack companies in the country announced that Aleli Arcilla is taking over leadership as vice president and managing director in the Philippines. Aleli is the first woman and Filipino company lead in almost 15 years, strengthening the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda of supporting and developing local talent and women leaders.
“Mondelēz International brands are those that I personally love and because of that, I have always admired the company as a consumer,” shares Aleli whose personal favorite snacks are Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers. “My impression of Mondelēz International as a snacks powerhouse, where people are proud of the brands and the work they do, has only been strengthened since I joined. The love for our brands and our consumers is palpable within the whole organization, which makes me very excited to lead the team.”
Growth in the new normal
She further shares insights on the company’s focus in the coming months and years. “The Philippines has a young population and culturally, food is a big part of our lives. Snacking occasions are an opportunity to bond and establish connections with family and friends. New consumption occasions are also developed over time. This is truer now post-COVID where we live in a new hybrid reality of connecting. The habits and behaviors have changed, but the need for connection remains. With this, the continued growth in snacking is inevitable and will be further catapulted by emerging needs in the wellness space.” Wellness is a space that Aleli knows well, being a fitness enthusiast and avid runner.
“I am looking forward to taking Mondelēz International in the Philippines to further heights and to participate in adding to the 59-year history of the company, particularly for the growth of our global brands: Oreo, Cadbury, and Toblerone.” Mondelēz International is also the maker of locally loved and leading products such as Tang, Eden cheese, and Cheez Whiz.
Aleli brings more than 26 years of experience to the company with a distinguished career across sales, marketing, and senior commercial roles with successful and scale multi-national companies. Aleli started her career at Mead Johnson, where she spent more than a decade, followed by a long successful stint in PepsiCo and most recently in Reckitt where she spent 6 years with the company. As an experienced general manager and commercial leader of the Philippines market with successful stints accelerating different businesses, Aleli will bring a strong portfolio, commercial, and execution experience to the Philippines, which is one of Mondelēz International’s biggest markets in Southeast Asia.