Daniel Calderoni named CEO of Kind North America

Mars Inc.-owed Kind Snacks has tapped Daniel Calderoni as chief executive officer for North America.

Calderoni previously served as general manager of Mars Pet Nutrition in Canada.

He will report to Blas Maquivar, global president of Health and Wellness at Mars Snacking.

“We’re extremely pleased to welcome Daniel to Kind and the Mars Health & Wellness leadership team,” said Maquivar in a release. “Daniel is highly regarded as a purpose and people-first leader, and we are excited that he brings a tremendous track record of growth to the KIND business.”

Calderoni brings more than 20 years of global experience leading consumer brands to the role.

He joined Mars Pet Nutrition in November 2022, working out of the Mars Canada headquarters. In that role, he managed a portfolio of brands including Pedigree and Iams.

Before that, Calderoni was the VP of emerging markets for Pet Nutrition in support of their global growth strategy.

He has also served as general manager of Pet Nutrition in the Southern Cone, which included Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Before joining Mars, Calderoni held various roles in marketing at Unilever across Brazil, South Africa and China.

“I believe an organization’s purpose should be its true differentiator,” stated Calderoni. “That’s why I’m thrilled to join the leadership team at Kind Snacks, a brand whose products bring all kinds of good to the world. Kind sparked the growth of an entirely new healthy snacking category back in 2004, and I’m eager to take part in leading the brand into its next chapter as we shape the future of snacking."