What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Over the past year, our legal team at Mondelēz has spearheaded a significant transformation, redefining our purpose to ensure seamless integration with the business, thereby leveraging initiatives and identifying new opportunities. Examples of our recent work include the implementation of a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system, revolutionising our end-to-end contract management process with simplification, automation, governance, and collaboration. This initiative has yielded remarkable results, achieving over an 80% increase in contract generation efficiency and a 40% reduction in legal workload for contract evaluation. Additionally, we successfully negotiated a naming rights contract between Mondelēz and São Paulo Futebol Clube, leading to the creation of the “MorumBIS”. This strategic partnership has opened doors for the activation of our Bis brand and enhanced engagement with consumers, showcasing our commitment to innovation and collaboration.

What would you say are the unique qualities required to be successful as an in-house lawyer in your industry?

Success as an in-house lawyer in our industry demands a blend of legal expertise and business acumen. We should be business leaders with legal expertise, rather than legal experts merely supporting the business. In today’s fast-paced environment, it is crucial to possess not only hard skills but also soft skills such as collaboration, resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and a disruptive mindset. Moreover, fostering diversity within our teams is essential, as diverse perspectives drive innovation and serve as a competitive advantage.

How have you fostered closer collaboration between the legal department and your business counterparts?

We have fostered closer collaboration by aligning our legal strategic agenda with the organisation’s overall objectives. Our legal leaders actively participate in the leadership teams of respective business areas, ensuring that legal considerations are integrated into decision-making processes. Additionally, we have established purposeful agendas with our business partners, addressing their specific needs and promoting a culture of mutual understanding and cooperation.

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

As the leader of Pride, Mondelēz’s LGBTQIA+ affinity group, and a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, I am deeply committed to fostering inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. As a gay man myself, married to my husband for 15 years and father of a 7-year-old trans girl and a 6-year-old black boy, I believe in the power of representation and in creating safe spaces where individuals can bring their authentic selves to work, not only because it is morally right, but also because it drives better business results. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental values that I believe drive positive change in the world we live in.