Ruffels (pictured) has worked in insights and analytics for more than 25 years, and was previously at GSK Consumer Health Care, where she was global vice-president for consumer, business insights and analytics.

At GSK, Ruffels developed insights and analytics within the organisation, put consumer understanding at the heart of decision making and made consumer insights and analytics key strategic focus areas.

Other companies Ruffels worked for include more than 20 years at Procter & Gamble, where she led various global insight organisations across research and development, sales and marketing, and four years at Samsung, where she headed the firm’s insights and analytics for its consumer electronics business.

Ruffels was elected to the MRS main board in 2018.

In her new role, Ruffels will focus on increasing insights within Mars Pet Nutrition as part of the organisation’s digital transformation and will help link real-time behavioural insights and understanding to its brand and innovation pipelines.

A key aspect of her role will be to build new capabilities in the team, with close collaboration with the data and analytics and digital technology teams in pet care and the wider Mars organisation.

Chris Mondzelewski, chief growth officer at Mars Pet Nutrition, said: “I am thrilled that Zoe will be joining us as the global insights vice-president for Mars Pet Nutrition. Zoe joins us from GSK Consumer Health Care and will be bringing with her over 25 years of experience in various sectors.  

“As Zoe takes on the role of global insights vice-president for Pet Nutrition, she will focus on elevating insights for our organisation as a key element of our digital transformation.”