Retail/Wholesale: POUL WEIHRAUCH

In September, Weihrauch takes over as CEO of Mars Inc., the privately held global candy and pet food manufacturer known for brands like M&Ms.

Formerly global president for Mars Petcare, the company’s pet food manufacturing and veterinary care division, Weihrauch has big shoes to fill. During the eight-year tenure of his predecessor, Grant Reid, Mars’ sales grew by more than 50%. The company, which employs about 130,000 people worldwide, reported nearly $45 billion in 2021 revenue.

A Denmark native, Weihrauch joined Mars in 2000 as European brand leader for Snickers. He later moved from England to the Czech Republic to become general manager of Mars’ confectionery business in Europe. Later Weihrauch was promoted to lead the Mars Food business in Europe. In 2014, he became president of Mars Petcare, which runs an international network of 2,000 pet hospitals, roughly half of which are operated by U.S. subsidiary Banfield Pet Hospital.   

Weihrauch received his degree in business economics and an MBA from Aalborg University in Denmark. He also holds a master’s degree in international marketing from Strathclyde Business School in Scotland.