Bettina Abruzzese

Responsible for Scientific Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, and Nutrition & Health across a Mars Inc. division with 16 iconic brands including Ben’s Original, Dolmio, Tasty Bite, Kevin’s Natural Foods, and MasterFoods, spanning seven subcategories from ready meals and culinary ingredients to food supplements.

I lead an engaged, high-performing global team of scientific and regulatory experts across 30+ countries, driving strategies that enable innovation, ensure compliance, and advance nutrition and health for consumers worldwide.

Accountable for shaping the division’s long-term SRA strategy and delivering annual local plans covering Product Compliance, Innovation Support, Advocacy, Nutrition Standards, Commitments and External Reporting.

Reporting directly to the Global R&D VP.

Leadership roles:

• Member of the Food & Nutrition R&D Leadership Team, representing SRA.

• Member of the SRA Leadership Team, representing the Food & Nutrition division.

• Health & Wellbeing Strategy Lead, driving the division’s nutrition and health future agenda.

Responsible for the Public Affairs & Nutrition Advocacy strategy of the Plant based, Dairy, Beverages categories, including issues management and multi-stakeholder engagement.

Direct report to the UKI VP General Secretary (public affairs, regulatory affairs, communications, legal & compliance, sustainability).

Leadership roles:

• Member of the General Secretary Leadership Team, representing Public Affairs.

• Member of the UKI Plant-Based BU Leadership Team, representing General Secretary.

• Plant-Based Alliance UK Board member, representing Danone.

Responsible for leading regulatory affairs (5 sr. managers as direct reports, team of 10) across UK and Ireland, managing communication’s validation (on pack and advertising), innovation, external influencing and product compliance for all Danone divisions (Specialised Nutrition - Consumer and Healthcare Adults & Paediatrics -, Essential dairy & plant-based, Waters).

Direct report to the UKI VP General Secretary (public affairs, regulatory affairs, communications, legal & compliance, sustainability).

Leadership roles:

• Member of the General Secretary Leadership team, representing Regulatory Affairs.

• Member of the Worldwide General Counsel Leadership team.

Additional responsibilities:

- One Voice Regional Volunteer, representing Danoners of UK & Ireland before Danone’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors

- General Secretary’s PMO for “Local First”, a reorganization plan to transform the business

On an international assignment, I led the regulatory affairs network (8 managers based in Latin America, North America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, Russia and North Asia) defining short- and long-term regulatory strategy and advocacy priorities to drive growth in the Deodorants category.

Additional responsabilities:

- Global microplastics expert, leading a cross-functional senior leaders’ issue management workstream for home, beauty and personal care products.

- Member of the global Sustainability strategy regulatory team

- Mentored a group in Asia and Middle East to enhance communication’s skills

Responsible for leading regulatory affairs (team of 3 plus regional coordination of 14) and focused primarily on managing Innovation and Advocacy activities to drive growth in the Latin American region (20 countries), whilst maintaining relevant links to ensure ongoing compliance of existing and future product portfolio of all Foods & Refreshment categories (Ice creams, Beverages, Savoury, Dressings, Spreads and Foodsolutions).

Additional responsibilities:

- Co-chair of the Labelling committee @ALAIAB

- President of the Technical Committee @ALAIAB

- ABIA’s representative in the Brazilian Codex Focal Point CCFL

- Latin American representative in Unilever’s regulatory toxicology network