Richie Gray
VP, Global Head of SnackFutures
Richie Gray is the Global Head of Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures Corporate Venture Capital Hub. Richie’s mission is to build a high growth portfolio of game changers for the global snacking leader by identifying and investing in brands, companies and technologies that have the potential to disrupt the future of snacking; and to partner with the founders and management teams to accelerate their path to scale.
Richie has a 30-year track record of growing businesses and teams, having held a variety of international leadership roles in sales, marketing, general management and M&A.
Now with Mondelēz for 25 years, Richie began his career with Guinness plc, now Diageo, in his native Scotland. He graduated with an Honours degree in Business Studies and Accounting from the University of Edinburgh. Richie is based in Zurich, Switzerland which he sees as the ideal base for working with multiple nationalities and for pursuing his passion for endurance sports challenges and skiing.
Superpower
Pushing boundaries: Inspiring people to see and reach their highest potential
Richie Gray
VP, Global Head of SnackFutures
Superpower
Pushing boundaries: Inspiring people to see and reach their highest potential
Bio
Richie Gray is the Global Head of Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures Corporate Venture Capital Hub. Richie’s mission is to build a high growth portfolio of game changers for the global snacking leader by identifying and investing in brands, companies and technologies that have the potential to disrupt the future of snacking; and to partner with the founders and management teams to accelerate their path to scale.
Richie has a 30-year track record of growing businesses and teams, having held a variety of international leadership roles in sales, marketing, general management and M&A.
Now with Mondelēz for 25 years, Richie began his career with Guinness plc, now Diageo, in his native Scotland. He graduated with an Honours degree in Business Studies and Accounting from the University of Edinburgh. Richie is based in Zurich, Switzerland which he sees as the ideal base for working with multiple nationalities and for pursuing his passion for endurance sports challenges and skiing.
Luba Safran
Investment Lead
Luba Safran leads Venture Capital activity for Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures Ventures. Prior to joining Mondelēz, Luba held a variety of strategic growth roles at AB InBev. There she gained experience launching new products and brands in multiple global markets. She then brought her commercial experience to bear in the venture space, joining InBev’s corporate venture capital group (ZX Ventures). At ZX she led investment thesis development, deal sourcing and portfolio company support across a variety of verticals. Luba received her bachelor’s from The University of Chicago and her MBA from The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business.
Superpower
True Believer: making the impossible possible
Luba Safran
Investment Lead
Superpower
True Believer: making the impossible possible
Bio
Luba Safran leads Venture Capital activity for Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures Ventures. Prior to joining Mondelēz, Luba held a variety of strategic growth roles at AB InBev. There she gained experience launching new products and brands in multiple global markets. She then brought her commercial experience to bear in the venture space, joining InBev’s corporate venture capital group (ZX Ventures). At ZX she led investment thesis development, deal sourcing and portfolio company support across a variety of verticals. Luba received her bachelor’s from The University of Chicago and her MBA from The University of Chicago – Booth School of Business.
Daphné Busseniers
Strategy & Insights Lead
Daphné Busseniers is the Strategy & Insights Lead for Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures Ventures, based in Zurich. Daphné spearheads the integration of consumer‑centric intelligence into SnackFutures’ investment framework. She translates emerging snacking trends into our investment strategies, scouts high‑potential brands and technologies and supports portfolio companies with insight capabilities to accelerate growth.
After earning a Master’s in Applied Economics from the University of Antwerp, Daphné started out as a field‑sales trainee at Kraft Foods Belgium before going on to build a broad commercial career, cultivating cross‑functional expertise across snacking categories and brands globally in marketing, brand equity, and sales.
Superpower
Turning curiosity into collaboration – building relationships that unlock collective growth
Daphné Busseniers
Strategy & Insights Lead
Superpower
Turning curiosity into collaboration – building relationships that unlock collective growth
Bio
Daphné Busseniers is the Strategy & Insights Lead for Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures Ventures, based in Zurich. Daphné spearheads the integration of consumer‑centric intelligence into SnackFutures’ investment framework. She translates emerging snacking trends into our investment strategies, scouts high‑potential brands and technologies and supports portfolio companies with insight capabilities to accelerate growth.
After earning a Master’s in Applied Economics from the University of Antwerp, Daphné started out as a field‑sales trainee at Kraft Foods Belgium before going on to build a broad commercial career, cultivating cross‑functional expertise across snacking categories and brands globally in marketing, brand equity, and sales.
Simon Miles
Director, Portfolio Manager
Simon Miles leads SnackFutures Venture’s portfolio of investments, driving rapid growth by partnering with founders and management teams, accelerating them to scale. Simon’s more than 20 years in the CPG industry, including a decade at Mondelēz, includes extensive experience and leading teams in sales, marketing, and business operations. Simon most recently led the ANZ Baked Snacks portfolio out of Australia, driving growth through brand innovation and acquisition integration. Simon will now bring these skills to managing the end to end business agenda for the SnackFutures portfolio companies.
Simon holds an Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University. Now based in New Jersey, he lives with his wife and three children.
Superpower
Challenge accepted: approaches new opportunities with calm, optimism and pragmatism
Simon Miles
Director, Portfolio Manager
Superpower
Challenge accepted: approaches new opportunities with calm, optimism and pragmatism
Bio
Simon Miles leads SnackFutures Venture’s portfolio of investments, driving rapid growth by partnering with founders and management teams, accelerating them to scale. Simon’s more than 20 years in the CPG industry, including a decade at Mondelēz, includes extensive experience and leading teams in sales, marketing, and business operations. Simon most recently led the ANZ Baked Snacks portfolio out of Australia, driving growth through brand innovation and acquisition integration. Simon will now bring these skills to managing the end to end business agenda for the SnackFutures portfolio companies.
Simon holds an Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School and a Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University. Now based in New Jersey, he lives with his wife and three children.
