Generation Next Ibon Segura
Senior Channel Planning Manager MONDELĒZ CANADA INC. An exceptional sales leader, Ibon Segura has been at the forefront of transformational change at Mondelēz. Born and raised in Spain, Segura moved to Vancouver to study business at the University of British Columbia. He joined Mondelēz (then Kraft Foods) as a sales rep in 2012 and was promoted two years later to lead a key account. Segura
Jacquelin Weatherbee Vice-president, Communications and Corporate Affairs SOBEYS INC.
In the five years since she joined Sobeys, Jacquelin Weatherbee has clearly made her mark. Working her way up through the communications ranks to her current role as vicepresident, communications and corporate affairs, she’s artfully led key corporate announcements for the grocery giant: the acquisition of Farm Boy in 2018, the
strategy to convert a number of Safeway and Sobeys stores to FreshCo, the implementation of sensoryfriendly shopping, and the recent launch of Voilà. But one of her biggest communications challenges so far has been COVID-19, which hit shortly after she was promoted to the vicepresident role. Being new to the role didn’t stop her from ensuring Sobeys was expertly communicating its pandemic-related strategies and protocols to employees and the public. “There were some moments at the peak of the onset of the pandemic when my teammates and I were working 20 hours a day,” says Weatherbee. “It wasn’t even perceived as a negative thing, it was just we had this renewed purpose, an essential purpose. It taught me so much as a leader— that the more you can truly connect your team to your purpose, the stronger your results are going to be, and the more authentic.”
50 CANADIAN GROCER || December 2020/January 2021
came by the CPG industry naturally; his father was a 30-year P&G veteran. In 2017, Mondelēz conducted a massive overhaul of the packaging in its cookie portfolio, the company’s largest-ever strategic initiative. Segura was handpicked to be the project lead and delivered ahead on every metric. From there, he led the business for a major grocer, and his strong performance led to another promotion. What motivates Segura is continuous learning. “I love
to work with different people, learn from their experiences, and take that learning on to the next role,” he says. Segura is also passionate about developing the next generation of leaders. He plays a leading role in Mondelēz’s Leadership Development Program, helping to recruit, train and mentor university graduates joining the company. He has also led workshops on combatting racism in the workplace, and was a mentor in the organization’s Women’s Business Council.
William Yu
Senior Customer Business Development Manager BIMBO CANADA It’s been 15 years since William Yu entered the CPG industry in sales, and he still has as big a passion for it today as he did at the start. That passion, along with his strong leadership and change-management skills, has led to big wins over the years, including major new agreements and double-digit growth with retail customers. “Sales continues to evolve and it’s becoming more datadriven ... I love numbers, but relationships are still a big part of it. It’s a fine balance between the two.” Yu, who’s been with Bimbo Canada since 2011, fosters strong relationships with his customers. It’s because of those relationships that he was able to quickly gain customer support during COVID-19. By immediately implementing a promotional strategy and altering executional plans, Yu was able to satisfy both customer
and consumer needs. Yu also has a well-earned reputation for developing talent within Bimbo Canada. His ability to mentor has led to recognition for many associates on the commercial bread team as future leaders. “Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to have leaders support me through challenging situations, but also put me in a position to succeed. Now, as a leader myself, I have a great passion for doing the same.” CG