Mars appoints Christina Ruggiero as North America Regional President for Pet Nutrition business  

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (July 21, 2026) — Mars today announced the appointment of Christina Ruggiero as Regional President, Mars Pet Nutrition North America, effective July 1.
 

For more than 90 years, Mars has helped pet parents care for their pets through trusted nutrition brands backed by world-class science.  Today, the company is advancing solutions that support hydration, gut & dental health, healthy aging and lifelong wellness. At the same time, Mars is helping pet parents navigate an increasingly complex landscape of information, trends and choices through seamless experiences wherever they research, shop for and care for their pets.
 

You could be interested

Champion Petfoods Unveils $32M CAD Global Innovation and Discovery Centre  

In this role Ruggiero will lead one of Mars Petcare's largest units, overseeing a portfolio of trusted and iconic brands including PEDIGREE®, IAMS®, SHEBA®, CESAR®, GREENIES™, TEMPTATIONS® and NUTRO™ across the United States and Canada. By working closely with retailers, suppliers, industry partners, agencies, and other strategic collaborators, Ruggiero will strengthen the partnerships that drive growth, accelerate innovation, and create exceptional experiences for pet parents and their pets.
 

Ruggiero joins Mars from The Coca-Cola Company, where she most recently served as President of the Global Nutrition Category, leading a $9 billion portfolio that included Minute Maid, Simply, Santa Clara, fairlife, Maaza and Innocent, and delivering one of the fastest-growing businesses in Coca-Cola's portfolio during her tenure.
 

Her appointment comes at a moment of significant opportunity for the pet care category. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are now pet parents¹, and over one third of American pet parents say their pet is the most important thing in their life² – investing more in their health, wellbeing, and longevity than ever before. With more than four in five pet parents³ viewing nutrition as the most important contributor to their pet's health, demand is growing for science-backed nutrition, trusted wellness solutions, and innovative products that help pets live full, healthy lives.
 

"Throughout my career, I've been drawn to businesses with category-defining brands, strong purpose and opportunities to create meaningful impact," said Ruggiero. "Mars Pet Nutrition combines world-class science, culturally fluent brands and a deep understanding of the role pets play in people's lives. I'm excited to join the team at such an important time for the business and help accelerate growth, strengthen innovation and give pet parents greater confidence in the choices they make every day for the pets we love."
 

Prior to leading Coca-Cola's Global Nutrition Category, Ruggiero served as President, North America Operations, Central Zone, and spent nearly four years in India as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd., where she doubled the company's net worth and significantly expanded its retail footprint. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles across procurement, operations and supply chain, including serving as Vice President of Procurement for Diageo, where she led teams across North America, Europe, Russia and Africa. She began her career as a cryptologist in the U.S. Navy supporting the National Security Agency.
 

Ruggiero has been recognized throughout her career for her commitment to inclusive leadership and organizational culture, earning honors including House of Rose Professional's "Best CEO Leading on Gender Diversity & Inclusion" and "Most Inspirational Woman Leader."
 

She holds a Master's degree in Management from the University of Huddersfield and a Bachelor of Science degree from Marymount College.

Source: Mars

References
1. NielsenIQ Pet-O-Graphics Survey, Q2 2025 
2. Mars Global Pet Parent Study, April 2024
3. Petfood Industry, April 2025