Anand earns his place in the 2025 DataIQ 100 North America not just as the first Chief Data Officer of Mars Snacking, but as a signal of a company reshaping itself around data. In under a year, he has brought clarity of vision, velocity of execution, and a strategic mindset focused on long-term value creation to one of the world’s most recognizable consumer brands. In a global business where legacy, complexity and scale could easily hinder transformation, Anand is proving that with the right ambition and support, data can become a unifying force across functions, regions, and use cases. Mars has been a prominent DataIQ client since 2023 and Mars Wrigley was crowned Best Place to Work in AI and Data at the 2024 DataIQ AI Awards.
I have the honor of being Mars Snacking’s first Chief Data Officer, a groundbreaking role in a company with a century-long history. My career journey has been exciting, rising through the ranks to handle complex data and digital challenges for Fortune 500 companies. My background includes several executive-level data and analytics roles, including at Intel, where I was senior director and global head of the corporate data office, leading enterprise data and analytics strategy, architecture, and governance capabilities to improve business outcomes.
Today, I am leading all data-related initiatives, overseeing analytics, platforms, and AI enablement for the company’s snacking business. I lead a global team, creating and implementing data and AI strategy with future-back visionary leadership and innovative spirit.
My primary objective is to transform the data experience for both our associates and consumers. Our strategic investments in talent and the establishment of a robust AI ecosystem have significantly accelerated this transformation initiative. An example is MarsGPT, our state-of-the-art AI platform that enables associates to access trusted and timely data, thereby facilitating more rapid and informed decision-making. Whether it involves sales leaders in transit, factory site associates, or corporate employees and executives, MarsGPT enhances daily productivity by providing decision-ready data in seconds, rather than weeks or months.
But platforms like MarsGPT are only the beginning. As we witness the emergence of agentic AI and the increasing significance of data governance, data leaders are being called upon to transform their vision with bold, forward-thinking strategies. It is no longer just about building capability – it is about architecting seamless ecosystems that balance innovation with integrity. That means embedding governance into every layer of the data stack, ensuring ethical AI use, regulatory compliance, and long-term trust.
None of this is possible without sustained business sponsorship. The CDO team sits at the intersection of business and technology, supporting global and regional functions alike. Earning and maintaining that sponsorship requires consistent visibility and proof of value. We focus on celebrating success, running data literacy roadshows, promoting adoption of our strategy, and tracking measurable impact. These efforts help build credibility and ensure the data function remains tightly aligned to business priorities – positioned not as a support function, but as a driver of transformation.