Company Overview of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Presents at 2nd Annual Adam Smith Conference on FMCG in Russia, Oct-16-2012 12:45 PM. Venue: Marriott Grand Hotel, Moscow, Russia. Speakers: Miroslav Ursiny, Vice President, Russia and CIS Strategy.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. is cutting 100 jobs, or about 10% of its local work force, because it is restructuring its North American business to focus on increasing sales of its chewing-gum and confections products. Many of the job cuts will affect legal, marketing, human resources and other employees who work at Wrigley's offices at 600 W. Chicago. The company employs about 1,000 of its 2,800 North American business workers in the local area. Unaffected by the cuts are the company's operations at the Wrigley Building and on Goose Island. The spokeswoman said the cutbacks were driven by the company and not its corporate parent Mars, which bought the company three years ago for $23 billion.

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company has appointed Hamish Thomson as general manager of Wrigley UK & Republic of Ireland, Andrew Leakey as general manager of Wrigley Pacific region and Chris Blayney as marketing director of Wrigley Pacific region. Andrew Leakey replaces Hamish. Andrew Leakey has been appointed in recognition of his service as Pacific marketing director since he joined in early 2008. In his new role, Leakey is responsible for delivering profitable growth and leading all aspects of business operations for a team of more than 400 associates, two factories, two commercial offices and 10 well loved brands across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Leakey will also sit on the Wrigley Asia Pacific leadership team. With over 25 years of industry experience, Andrew spent nearly a decade with Arnott's and GlaxoSmithKline prior to Wrigley, in addition to time with Mars Petcare and Cerebos Greggs. Chris Blayney replaces Andrew. Blayney has held several senior marketing roles at Wrigley Pacific, recently developing the region's five year growth plan for gum, and leading a review of growth opportunities for the global Wrigley mints business. Blayney brings strategic focus, strong technical marketing, an acute sense of commercial acumen and boundless energy to his position. He spent 12 years at Procter & Gamble Australasia and South Asia, and most recently was Campbell's marketing director at Campbell Arnott's. Blayney will oversee all marketing activity for Wrigley's portfolio of well loved gum, mints and confectionery brands throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.