Change in leadership at Mars

Mars Chocolate’s global president Grant F. Reid has been named by the company’s board of directors as president, effective Jan. 2, 2015. Reid will take over for current Mars president Paul S. Michaels, who plans to retire at the end of the year.



"In his almost 11 years at the helm of Mars, Paul has overseen a period of outstanding business performance and tremendous achievement. He also built up the talent of the company while strengthening the visible presence of our five principles — quality, efficiency, responsibility, mutuality and freedom — in the way we operate," said Victoria B. Mars, chairperson of the Mars board. "It's because of his focus on nurturing leaders who are both talented and principled, that we have such a strong internal successor in the business. We are proud and excited that Grant, a 26-year veteran of the business, and a member of the Mars Leadership Team since 2007, will be our next president."

As global president of Mars Chocolate, one of Mars' biggest business segments, Reid leads more than 17,000 employees.



"I'm grateful to the board of directors for giving me this opportunity and proud to have been chosen as the next president of Mars, Incorporated. Mars has always encouraged and provided opportunity for growth and development of associates, and I am certainly living proof of that fact," said Grant. "I believe in the Mars culture, I love the Mars brands and I know that we have the best associates in the world. We have a truly exciting future and I'm honored to lead the organization into that future."



Reid has an honors degree in management economics, as well as a certificate in marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.