LONDON — Mars Incorporated announced March 13 the appointment of Natalia Ball to the role of global chief growth officer of Mars Pet Nutrition, effective April 1. She will lead the growth of Mars brands including PEDIGREE®, IAMS®, CESAR®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, TEMPTATIONS®, NUTRO® and GREENIES®.

Ball brings more than 20 years of experience as a global business leader specializing in branding building and innovation to her new role at Mars.

“Natalia is a great example of talent moving across Mars, bringing diverse perspective to help accelerate our ambition to transform the experience of pet ownership,” said Ikdeep Singh, global president of Mars Pet Nutrition. “Natalia’s leadership will be critical to growing our beloved brands, accelerating our aim to become a digital first organization, and bolstering our obsession with pet parents through leading insights and breakthrough innovation.”

Natalia Ball, chief growth officer of Mars Pet Nutrition. 

| Source: Mars Incorporated

In her new role, Ball will be tasked with fueling further growth across the portfolio by driving marketing, sales and innovation. She will work with Mars’ partner agencies to help build its leading brands. In addition, her responsibilities will include “building advanced capabilities in pet parent insights, portfolio strategy, superior proposition, breakthrough innovation, and retail excellence including digital commerce, and digital data-driven marketing,” the company said.

Ball joined Mars in 2015 as the global brand director for CESAR. In 2018, she led Mars Pet Nutrition Europe’s Care & Treats business unit before leading the company’s Global Care & Treats business in 2020. In 2021, Ball joined the Royal Canin Global Leadership Team.

Prior to joining Mars, Ball worked at Procter & Gamble for 15 years, where she held a variety of brand and portfolio management roles in the company’s Feminine and Fabric Care divisions.

“I am humbled and excited by the opportunity to continue to serve millions of pets and pet parents, fueling growth of brands I love and admire alongside amazing talent,” Ball said.

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.