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Jan 07, 2021

Mondelēz International finds new general counsel

Gerd Pleuhs is retiring after 35 years with the company

Laura Stein is to become executive vice president and general counsel leading corporate and legal affairs with Chicago-based Mondelēz International, effective January 11. She will report directly to chair and CEO Dirk Van de Put.

Stein succeeds Gerd Pleuhs, who will retire at the end of April following a transition period. He has been with the company for more than 35 years.

Stein previously worked at The Clorox Company, where she was executive vice president, general counsel and head of corporate affairs. She has led Clorox’s global legal and corporate affairs functions – including compliance, enterprise risk, audit, communications, government affairs, ESG and community affairs – since 2005. She was previously general counsel at the HJ Heinz Company.

Angela Hilt was last month named senior vice president and chief legal officer of Clorox. She was previously vice president, corporate secretary and deputy general counsel with the company.

In her new role Stein will be responsible for overseeing Mondelēz International’s global legal, compliance, corporate reputation and ESG work, including public and government affairs, internal and external corporate communications, sustainability, community and foundation efforts.

‘With decades of experience promoting and protecting people, brand and corporate reputations around the globe, Laura is the perfect leader to continue guiding our corporate and legal affairs function into the future,’ Van de Put says in a statement. ‘I am looking forward to Laura’s leadership and partnership in ensuring we as a company are purpose-led and values-enabled.

‘I would like to thank Gerd for his significant contributions to our company over many decades. Gerd has been a vital member of my leadership team and has built a world-class global corporate and legal affairs department that is well positioned to support our long-term growth strategy.’

Mondelēz International’s operations includes brands such as OREO, belVita and LU biscuits, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate, Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum.

 

Ben Maiden

Ben Maiden is the editor-at-large of Governance Intelligence, an IR Media publication, having joined the company in December 2016. He is based in New York. Ben was previously managing editor of Compliance Reporter, covering regulatory and compliance...