Mumbai: Perfetti Van Melle, the confectionery giant will shortly be appointing Mr. Ramesh Jayaraman as the Managing Director of Perfetti Van Melle India. Prior to this Mr. Jayaraman was the Managing Director of PVM?s businesses in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. He will take over this responsibility from Sameer Suneja who has been promoted to a global role as Executive Vice President - Innovation and Business Development.

Mr. Suneja will now be based out of Netherlands having a larger responsibility in the global operation of the company and will report to the Global CEO of Perfetti Van Melle.

Mr. Jayaraman is well respected for his extensive skills and knowledge across all functions of the company. His leadership has been a key driver in transforming the company?s operations and sustained growth in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh markets.

Mr. Jayaraman is a graduate of XLRI Jamshedpur. In India, he worked for Cadbury and Britannia, in the Marketing area. He also had a brief stint with Ogilvy and Mather. From early 1999, he has worked mainly outside India, and his assignments have taken him to China, France, Egypt, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Prior to joining Perfetti Van Melle in 2006, Mr. Jayaraman was Project Director India for Danone, and the Deputy Managing Director of Yakult Danone India Private Limited, a joint venture between Groupe Danone and Yakult Honsha of Japan.

Mr. Suneja who now moves on to this international assignment has been with Perfetti for more than 15 years in various capacities. During his tenure in India he has played a key role in the company?s distinguished growth and he has been heading the Indian business for the past 4 years. During his tenure the company forayed into the snacks category in India, thus becoming the first subsidiary in the group to diversify into non-confectionery segment.

In his new role as Executive Vice President - Innovation and Business Development, Mr. Suneja will identify and eventually develop projects in different markets related to new product ideas and exchanging cross-Group successful experiences in the marketing and commercial fields.

Mr. Sameer Suneja has also been accredited as one of ?India?s Hottest Young Marketers? in 2005 by Brand Equity and also one of ?India?s Hottest Young Executives? in 2008 by Business Today.