Nestlé has appointed Mark Davies as managing director for Nestlé Confectionery in the UK & Ireland. He takes over the position from Richard Watson, who was recently announced as market CEO.

In his new role, the company said Davies will be responsible for leading the confectionery business as it looks to consolidate its recent growth, increasing market share while driving value for consumers, customers, and suppliers.

Davies, who joined Nestlé in 1991, has more than 30 years’ FMCG experience, heading up large businesses and leading major acquisitions and the integration and transformation of joint ventures. He has worked in various European countries, as well as the Middle East and the Greater China region.

In his most recent position as vice president Nestec Ltd in Switzerland, he was responsible for the strategic direction of Nestlé’s global confectionery business, with his remit encompassing capital investment, acquisitions, and research and development. He was part of the team who designed, built and led the Nestlé Cocoa Plan, the company’s initiative to create shared value in the cocoa supply chain, from farmers to consumers.

Speaking about his new role Mark Davies said: “To be taking the reins at Nestlé UK&I’s confectionery business, where I started as a graduate three decades ago, is something truly special. 

“Many of Nestlé’s biggest and best-loved confectionery brands were created right here in the UK, including KitKat, Aero, Quality Street and After Eight. My focus will be on prioritising our sustainability commitments while ensuring that we continue to innovate, keeping our brands fresh and relevant and providing great value for the millions of people who enjoy our products every day.”