Mars is reportedly eliminating its top global media executive position following the consolidation of its massive $1.7 billion media account with Publicis, according to industry sources familiar with the matter.
The confectionery and pet food giant plans to eliminate the senior global media director role at year’s end, sources indicate. This strategic shift comes just months after Mars completed a sweeping review of its agency partnerships that resulted in Publicis winning the company’s entire media, commerce, and influencer marketing business.
Leadership Shift Follows Major Agency Consolidation
Ron Amram, who joined Mars in 2020 as senior global media director, is reportedly seeing his position eliminated. During his nearly five-year tenure, Amram spearheaded the company’s global media transformation program, an ambitious multi-year initiative to enhance Mars’ marketing capabilities in digital media and content.
Sources couldn’t confirm whether Amram would transition to a new role within Mars or depart the company entirely. Both Amram and Mars declined to comment on the reported changes when approached by media outlets.
The timing is notable—this leadership restructuring follows June’s completion of Mars’ extensive agency review process. After a six-month evaluation, the company moved its substantial media account from UK-based holding company WPP to Publicis, consolidating multiple marketing functions under one roof.
Broader Industry Trend or Isolated Move?
Mars isn’t alone in reshaping its media leadership structure. This appears to be part of a broader pattern among major advertisers reevaluating their marketing operations.
Last year, Unilever veteran Luis Di Como departed the consumer goods giant after 33 years amid wider business restructuring. More recently, Walgreens eliminated its internal media buying team as part of a strategic shift, according to Adweek’s reporting.
What makes Mars’ situation particularly interesting is the scale of its recent media consolidation. Moving a $1.7 billion account—covering household names like M&M’s, Snickers, and Pedigree pet food—represents one of the more significant agency shifts in recent memory.
Transformation Extends Beyond Media
Meanwhile, Mars is undergoing substantial changes across its entire business. The company is poised to complete its massive $35.9 billion acquisition of Kellanova later this year, a move that will dramatically expand Mars’ snacking portfolio into categories like chips and crackers through brands including Pringles and Pop-Tarts.
This megadeal, combined with the media consolidation and now the elimination of its top media executive role, suggests Mars is undertaking a comprehensive reevaluation of how it operates across multiple fronts.
The changes raise questions about how major advertisers are restructuring their marketing operations in an era of increasing consolidation. With Publicis now handling Mars’ entire media ecosystem, the need for an internal senior media director may have diminished—or the role may be evolving into something different entirely.
As Mars continues its transformation into an even larger consumer goods powerhouse, industry watchers will be looking to see whether this media leadership shift represents a new model for how major brands manage their marketing relationships in an increasingly consolidated landscape.
