Speakers

Mary Gukasyan, is a seasoned professional with over 22 years of experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) market. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a well-balanced approach, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence. Mary is currently serving as the Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Kraft Heinz.
Her comprehensive experience spans various aspects of business management, including developing and aligning strategic plans, managing crisis situations, implementing organizational and route-to-market structures, launching new products, and optimizing resource utilization. Mary is adept at motivating and developing teams, as well as negotiating with major customers and partners at the highest levels.
In her capacity as General Manager for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region at Kraft Heinz, Mary achieved record-breaking results in net sales value and spearheaded structural changes for the MEA zone. She focused on key priorities and successfully opened offices in strategic locations, leading to certifications for Great Place To Work in Egypt and Dubai. Mary is also focused on professional equality through empowering women, people with disabilities and youth. She is actively involved in executing Kraft Heinz ESG agenda in the region and has been an instrumental change agent in that regard.
Before joining Kraft Heinz, Mary held the position of General Manager for Russia & CIS at Kraft Heinz, where she drove significant sales and profitability growth over three years. She merged business units, developed innovative product launch plans, and fostered employee engagement, earning recognition for her leadership in the region.
Earlier in her career, Mary held various leadership roles at Danone, Sun InBev, Nestle, and ALGRO, where she gained extensive experience in sales, business development, and strategic management.
Mary holds a degree in Foreign Languages from Kuban State University, with additional education in Marketing from Kellogg University and Executive Management from INSEAD. She continues to be recognized for her leadership and achievements in the CPG industry.