Mondelez CEO’su Rusya’daki İşletmelerini Savundu: “Doğru Karar

The CEO of Mondelez, the company behind beloved Cadbury chocolates, has come under scrutiny for its decision to keep operations running in Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Dirk Van de Put, the chief executive, openly expressed his discomfort with the idea that his company’s taxes may be indirectly funding the war. He stated that remaining in Russia was the “right decision” after the invasion began in 2022, warning that pulling out could jeopardize thousands of jobs and leave the company vulnerable to potential Kremlin control over its local operations.

While many Western corporations, including McDonald’s, have exited Russia following its aggressive actions toward Ukraine, Mondelez has opted for a different path. Van de Put emphasized that they have halted new investments and advertising expenditures in Russia, yet they continue to operate. “You try to be neutral in the whole conflict,” he explained, “We’re not trying to take sides.” However, he admitted, “We pay taxes in Russia that helps the war. I’m not pleased about that.”

Since the full-scale invasion, Mondelez’s sales in Russia have ranged between $1 billion and $1.4 billion annually. The decision to stay has drawn criticism, with over 70 MPs from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine signing a letter urging the company to sever ties with Russia. Alex Sobel, the group’s chair, stated, “Continuing to operate in a nation responsible for the deaths of countless Ukrainian civilians and the abduction of thousands of children cannot be justified under any definition of ‘business as usual.'”

Van de Put further shared his concerns about the potential repercussions of exiting Russia, suggesting that the company’s manufacturing plants could have been confiscated, leading to a situation where the Kremlin could continue selling Mondelez products to finance the war. “It is not the most popular decision, but I think it was the right decision,” he asserted.

Despite the turmoil, Mondelez maintains its operations in Ukraine, where the conflict looms large. Van de Put mentioned that an office building in Ukraine had recently been hit, fortunately with no casualties among the staff. “Everybody’s safe,” he said, reflecting on the precarious reality of the situation. The company operates two plants in Ukraine, one located in Trostyanets, near the Russian border, and another in Vyshhorod, close to Kyiv. “One plant got hit twice; we’ve rebuilt it twice,” he recounted, noting the significant costs involved in the reconstruction efforts.

In a show of commitment, Mondelez doubled salaries for all employees in Ukraine when the conflict escalated and has not laid off any workers. “We’re committed there, but for the people that work there every day, there’s danger,” he added. As the war continues to rage, the situation remains volatile, with reports of drone attacks and ongoing military actions affecting both Ukraine and Russia.

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Kaynak: Orijinal Haber