The FMCG Guys

Natalia Ball is the Chief Growth Officer for Pet Nutrition at Mars, home to brands such as Pedigree, Whiskas and Royal Canin. She describes her role as the "orchestrator of growth", bringing together consumer insights, brand building, innovation and commercial execution to drive results.
In this episode, Natalia joins us to discuss why pet parents so thoroughly research every decision for the "most important member of the family", how AI is already shaping what they buy, and how brands can build lasting demand through cultural relevance.
Tune in to hear about:
How the pet care category is changing with consumers increasingly viewing pets as family members
Why Natalia's title is Chief Growth Officer and not CMO
How pet parents are using LLMs to choose food, routines and vets, and how Mars is working to influence AI recommendations
Why brand building matters as much as performance marketing, and how to make the case to the CFO
What cultural relevance really means: matching a human truth with a brand truth
Why briefing teams at the same time allows ideas to come from anywhere
Letting go of being the expert to create the right conditions for success
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ 
Audio Mixing by Modest Ferrer
Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian
Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.

Gawain Davies is Chief Commercial Officer at Euroleague Basketball, overseeing brand partnerships, events, ticketing, merchandising and licensing for the elite professional basketball ecosystem in the EMEA region. That ecosystem spans 52 professional men's teams, including clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and some of the most passionate fans in sport.
In this live recording from Cannes, Gawain joins us to discuss what brands really get from sports sponsorship, how fan passion turns into community and commercial value, and what FMCG companies should do before walking into a partnership conversation.
Tune in to hear about: 
What brands can learn from the World Cup, from crowded mix zones to Motorola's limited-edition phone that came with a ticket
Why fans are loyal to their clubs first, and how that creates communities that brands can tap into
Why sponsorship is no longer a "chairman's deal", and why he talks about return on objectives as much as ROI
Why bespoke packages are replacing off-the-shelf deals, with rights bought globally and activated locally
Why Euroleague cut its sponsors from over 30 to 16
How rights holders are building their own platforms and data, and what that means for brand budgets
What he wants brands to bring to a first meeting
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kSrj3mSbhis
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ 
Audio Mixing by Modest Ferrer
Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.

Bas Vorsteveld is Area Managing Director for Northern Europe at Kenvue, the Consumer Health care company behind brands such as Johnson's, Aveeno, Listerine and Neutrogena. He leads the business across the region, ensuring that trusted household names stay relevant for a new generation of shoppers.
In this episode, Bas joins us to discuss how consumer health brands can keep growing in categories where most people don't yet treat, how to help shoppers find the right solution on shelf and online, and how to stand out when regulation limits what you can say.
Tune in to hear about:
Why low penetration is the biggest growth opportunity
How retailers and brands can bring clarity to a crowded shelf, and where retail media fits
How sales and marketing capabilities are changing as shopper journeys get less linear
How to balance science and credibility with influencers, creators and healthcare professionals
What happens when a claim is the only thing you change, and why legislation makes it harder to stand out
How an established portfolio stays fast on trends as small brands pop up on TikTok
Why equity for women in the industry isn't there yet, and what leaders can do as allies
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ 
Audio Mixing by Modest Ferrer
Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.

Sinem Kaynak is Head of the Personal Care Breakthrough Innovation Group at Unilever, where she leads mergers and acquisitions, incubates new brands and launches existing ones into adjacent categories. Her M&A work spans Unilever's acquisitions of Wild and Dr. Squatch, and the exit of Elida Beauty (Q-tips and Caress) to private equity.
In this episode, Sinem joins us to discuss how big FMCG companies can learn from the indie brands that are reshaping the industry, what separates a lasting trend from a passing "fly", and how to bring a small brand into a big company without losing what makes it special.
Tune in to hear about:
Why portfolios are living organisms, and how to decide what to keep, buy or sell
How lower barriers to entry for new brands are promoting "nichification at scale"
How to tell a real consumer need from a cultural moment
Why trust, consistency and science could help iconic brands in the age of AI agents
Why community begins with passion and an unmet need, and how real-life experiences turn consumers into advocates
When M&A makes sense, and how to protect an acquired brand's magic
Why big companies could use a "me and my dog in the garage" mindset
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0OKoF6DL_vE
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ 
Audio Mixing by Modest Ferrer
Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian
Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.

Fez Ahmad is Head of Industry for CPG & Retail at Reddit, working with some of the world's largest FMCG brands to help them tap into one of the internet's most influential communities. Reddit has become a place where millions of people go to ask questions, compare products and get unfiltered opinions from real people.
In this episode, Fez joins us to discuss why Reddit matters for FMCG, how brands can learn from the conversations already happening around them, and what it takes to show up without killing the authenticity that makes the platform unique.
Tune in to hear about:
Why Reddit calls itself "the most human place on the internet"
How AI is making human validation more valuable
Reddit as one of the world's biggest free focus groups
Why brands need to listen before they speak
Building reach, engagement and commerce on Reddit
How brands can show up without disrupting communities
What's next for Reddit across search, shopping and AI
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ 
Audio Mixing by Modest Ferrer
Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian
Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.