Mondelēz International appoints Othmane Nadifi as Gulf managing director

Mondelēz International has appointed Othmane Nadifi as managing director of its Gulf business, tasking him with strengthening commercial execution, accelerating product innovation and developing talent across the region.

Nadifi brings more than two decades of leadership experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. In his new role, he will focus on expanding the company’s portfolio, strengthening customer relationships and building team capabilities, with consumers and customers at the centre of the business.

He most recently served as managing director of Mondelēz International’s Morocco business from October 2020 to September 2026. During his six-year tenure, he strengthened business performance, delivered consistent year-on-year growth and established a foundation for sustained growth.

“The Gulf offers significant opportunities for our snacking business, with demand for convenience and premium experiences, alongside the expansion of digital commerce, creating new ways to reach consumers and provide them with their snacking needs,” said Ihab Amin, president, Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan at Mondelēz International.

“Othmane’s commercial insight and leadership experience will help us respond to these opportunities through relevant innovation and stronger execution across our markets,” Amin added.

Before joining Mondelēz International’s Gulf leadership, Nadifi held roles at several consumer goods companies across North Africa and the Middle East.

He began his career at Procter & Gamble in Morocco and Saudi Arabia before moving into leadership positions within the PepsiCo system and Reckitt Benckiser across the Maghreb region.

From 2013 to 2020, he served as chief operating officer of Varun Beverages Morocco, PepsiCo’s bottling partner in Morocco. In that role, he oversaw end-to-end operations and strategic planning.

Commenting on his appointment, Nadifi said the business would build on its existing strengths while pursuing opportunities across product categories and sales channels.

“Our ambition is to build on the strength of our established business while identifying new opportunities across categories and channels,” he said. “We will continue to grow our brands, strengthen our partnerships with customers and invest in the capabilities of our teams.”

Mondelēz International operates in more than 150 countries, with a portfolio that includes Oreo, Ritz, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone.

Its Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan (MENAP) business serves 22 markets and is headquartered in Dubai, UAE. The regional business employs around 2,600 people and operates seven manufacturing plants across Egypt, Bahrain, Pakistan and Morocco.

Nadifi’s appointment comes as the company looks to build on demand for convenience-led and premium snacking products while expanding its reach through digital commerce and strengthening execution across Gulf markets.