Consumer health giant Haleon appoints Kellanova/Kellogg vet as GM
Consumer health company Haleon has named CPG marketing veteran Christine Jakovcic its general manager, effective today. This appointment follows Rupa Bahri stepping down after a 13-year career with the company to pursue other interests. Bahri will remain with the company for the coming months to support the Canadian team and her successor.
Jakovcic comes to the position from Kellanova, where she served as vice president of global snack brands, with global oversight for Pringles, Pop-Tarts and Cheez-It. Previously, as VP of marketing, Jakovcic led the Kellogg portfolio and P&L for six product categories and 40+ brands. She has also excelled in previous roles with Procter & Gamble and Molson Coors, where she led business and P&L for more than 50 brands including Coors, Molson, Heineken and Miller plus Ciders.
“[She] brings a wealth of experience and a passion for health and wellness that will be instrumental in helping Canada realize our shared vision,” says Lisa Paley, president of Haleon North America, which is known for brands such as Advil, Buckley’s, Sensodyne and Pronamel.
Ex-CIBC SVP Tammy Sadinsky joins Humber College
Tammy Sadinsky is the new interim CMO at Toronto’s Humber College.
Sadinsky was most recently SVP of brand and marketing for CIBC, a role she took on in 2021.
As a senior marketer for the Big Five bank, Sadinsky was recruited from Walmart to transform and elevate CIBC’s overall brand health. She had a team of six direct reports and a 250+ person marketing department.
Prior to joining CIBC, she was vice president of brand and marketing communications for Walmart Canada for more than three years, hired to elevate the retailer’s advertising and brand trust against the “Save Money, Live Better” promise.
Sadinsky also led Tim Hortons’ marketing between 2016 and 2018, when she was tasked with overseeing marketing activity for both restaurant and grocery portfolios in Canada and the United States.
NBA Canada director promoted to head of international strategy
Leah MacNab, NBA Canada’s managing director since 2019, has been promoted to head of international strategy and operations with the NBA.
In her new role, MacNab will continue to work closely with NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, Mark Tatum, and with the NBA’s international offices to drive business growth in key international markets. MacNab has been with the NBA since 2005, previously overseeing the league’s partnership business in Canada.
She has led interactive fan events and live game experiences, including NBA Canada Series, NBA House, NBA Crossover and WNBA Canada Games in Toronto (2023) and Edmonton (2024). She also helped develop and launch the first-ever NBA Courtside Restaurant in downtown Toronto. MacNab will continue to be based in the NBA’s office in Toronto, the home of the WNBA’s 14th expansion team, which just added Lyft vet Whitney Bell as CMO.
NBA fills newly created leadership role for Canada and Latin America
Arnon de Mello, who has led NBA Latin America since 2016, will step into the newly established role of managing director of NBA Latin America and Canada.
In this capacity, he will spearhead the development and expansion of the league’s business and basketball initiatives in Canada, in addition to his continued oversight of NBA operations in Latin America.
He will remain based in the league’s Sao Paulo office, with a regular presence in the NBA’s Toronto office.
