Derin Bello named Mars Food & Nutrition Canada GM

Mars Canada has tapped Derin Bello to take on a new role with the company as Mars Food & Nutrition Canada general manager.

Bello has worked for Mars since 2006, holding positions across its CPG segments of Confectionery, Pet and Food. She most recently worked as VP of sales for Mars Wrigley Canada, guiding teams in Digital, Category, Customer Marketing, Sales, Retail, Demand, Operations, Strategic Revenue Management and Capability. Bello also previously worked for McCain Foods Canada and Coca-Cola.

Bello succeeds Eric Huston in the role. Huston is currently working as vice president of sales North America.

Universal Music Canada names VP, brand partnerships

Universal Music Canada (UMC) has added Nick Hodge as vice president, brand partnerships for Universal Music for Brands (UMGB) in Canada. Hodge will lead UMC’s brand partnership strategy, leveraging the power of music and culture to drive cultural relevance for brands. He will report to Julie Adam, UMC’s executive vice president and general manager.

Most recently, Hodge was the founder of the brand partnerships division for The Feldman Agency (Canada’s largest music talent agency), where he established Feldman Entertainment Partnerships, a music-focused brands team specializing in corporate partnerships and charitable fundraising revenue. He also spent nearly five years with full-stack sponsorship agency T1, and was director of new business for Rooftop Agency.

Zavida Coffee promotes Darlyn Reyes

Zavida Coffee Roasters has promoted Darlyn Reyes to senior director, marketing and eCommerce.

Since 2020, Reyes has served in the capacity of director, marketing and eCommerce. Prior to joining Zavida, Reyes held ecomm and customer marketing strategy roles at Walmart.

Zavida recently targeted the back-to-campus crowd with variety packs at Walmart locations. This past holiday season, it looked to entice consumers with an advent calendar touting its variety, and launched a new six-flavour line of Espresso capsules for the Nespresso Original System.

Quebec hot sauce adds to its marketing team

Jean-Daniel Drouin is starting a new position as sales, marketing and marketing coordinator in Canada for hot sauce, spice and condiment brand, Firebarns Sauces. He is a nearly seven-year veteran of the company, most recently working as its sales rep.

Firebarns, which is available in approximately 1,000 sales outlets and more than 300 restaurants throughout Quebec, came to life in a big way last year, linking its sauces to the Big Game to resonate with NFL fans. The popular brand frequently deploys large shopper marketing assets to resonate with consumers, recently celebrating the new year at Metro locations.

With files from Andrew Jeffrey