Senior Leadership Team

Appointed CEO of Unifrutti Group in November 2023, Mohamed Elsarky brings over 20 years of leadership in the food industry. He has a strong track record of driving growth and global expansion across numerous FMCG sectors.

His extensive experience includes serving as CEO of Kellogg Australia and New Zealand, where he led significant innovation and growth. Elsarky also held key positions at Danone Group’s United Biscuits as President, and Pladis Biscuits North America as President and is Chairman and CEO of Artisan du Chocolat.  Additionally, as President and CEO of Godiva Chocolatier, he oversaw the brand’s expansion to more than 100 countries.

Elsarky’s broad expertise across markets and geographies makes him a key force behind Unifrutti’s ambitious growth plans. His leadership in scaling businesses and navigating complex markets is crucial to positioning Unifrutti as the leading and most sustainable global multi-fruit company.

Mauro Benda has been Unifrutti Group’s Chief Financial Officer since 2019, overseeing financial planning, reporting, treasury management, and investments. More recently, in 2025, he became CEO of Unifrutti Italy.

He brings extensive experience in corporate finance and investment banking, having spent over 10 years at BNP Paribas as Vice President in the Debt Capital Markets department, where he focused on M&A, corporate restructurings, and turnarounds for large Italian and international firms.

Earlier in his career, Mauro worked in consultancy at PwC Italy and in investment banking at Redi & Partners in the UK. He holds a degree in administration, finance, and control from the University of Perugia and an MBA from SDA Bocconi School of Management.

Germán Illanes Pizarro was appointed Group Chief Commercial Director of Unifrutti in 2025, following nearly a decade of leadership as CEO of Unifrutti’s Chilean Business Unit since 2016.

With over 20 years of experience in the global fresh produce trade, Germán brings deep expertise in fruit exports from Latin America. He joined Unifrutti in 1999 as Commercial Director of Unifrutti Chile, after earning a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Chile (1992). In 2005, he completed his MBA at Adolfo Ibáñez University.

A respected industry figure, Germán has served as an Executive Director on Unifrutti Group’s Board and currently sits on the boards of several fruit and vegetable associations, contributing to the advancement of sustainable and competitive practices in the global produce sector.

Karl Stehelin de Taisne became Unifrutti Group’s Chief M&A and Strategy Officer in January 2023, bringing over 15 years of experience in investment banking and private equity. He oversees mergers, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives to fuel the Group’s growth and global expansion.

Karl began his career in investment banking with Lazard and DC Advisory in Paris before founding KAST Advisory. He later joined Mubadala in Abu Dhabi, managing private equity investments and asset projects in agribusiness, industrial technology, and life sciences.

A graduate of HEC Paris with a Master of Science in Management, Karl plays a pivotal role in shaping Unifrutti’s vision to lead as the world’s most sustainable multi-fruit company.

Lorna Gibb leads Unifrutti’s global people strategy, overseeing talent development, organisational culture, leadership succession, HR governance, and the systems and capabilities that support a high-performing, multinational workforce. Her role includes partnering with the Group CEO and Board to align HR priorities with Unifrutti’s long-term strategic objectives.

Lorna brings extensive global experience across technology, aviation, travel, financial services, and large multinational environments, having led major people transformations in more than 130 countries. Her background includes senior leadership roles at Nokia, Skyscanner, easyJet, and Direct Line Group, where she delivered large-scale restructuring, cultural integration, global HR digitalisation, workforce planning and multi-jurisdiction M&A and divestment programmes.

Lorna is a qualified employment lawyer with over 20 years’ experience, holding an LLB, a Legal Diploma, CIPD accreditation, CEDR mediator certification, and senior executive education from London Business School.

Clyde Morgan joined Unifrutti in December 2024 as Chief Supply Chain Officer, bringing over 40 years of expertise in leading complex, end-to-end supply chain operations worldwide.

Clyde contributes extensive leadership and experience in driving supply chain performance, implementing innovative processes, reducing costs, and improving quality, customer service, and safety outcomes.

Throughout his career, Clyde has held several high-profile leadership roles in food and FMCG arena, including Chief Supply Chain Officer at Godiva, Director of Manufacturing for Kraft Foods China, and Director of Operations for Danone Biscuit Asia. He also dedicated over 30 years to Kellogg Australia, holding various leadership positions that significantly shaped the company’s manufacturing and operational strategies.

Amar Gulati joined Unifrutti Group as Chief Transformation Officer in April 2024, with the responsibility of developing and driving the execution of the Group’s transformation program and strategic initiatives across all business units and supporting functions.

Amar is a seasoned Transformation professional with a depth of experience taking operating, advisory and interim roles in Sovereign Wealth Funds, Private Equity and Consulting environments. Having worked with FMCG, Utilities, Healthcare, Agriculture and Logistics companies across the UK, Continental Europe and the Middle East, he has led complex transformation and restructuring projects with a focus on Revenue Growth, Profitability Improvement and Liquidity Management.

Prior to Unifrutti and ADQ, Amar worked at Aurelius, a pan-European Private Equity firm, delivering holistic value creation within portfolio companies. Earlier on his career, Amar worked in consultancy, serving at PwC within their Operational Restructuring practice in London. Amar holds a Batchelor of Science degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales.

Ashley Allen brings two decades of climate and sustainability leadership experience across both public and private sectors. At Unifrutti, she leads the Group’s global sustainability strategy, driving climate action, regenerative agriculture, responsible sourcing, and transparent ESG reporting to strengthen long-term resilience and deliver positive environmental and community impact.

Previously, Ashley was Chief Sustainability Officer at Oatly, where she built a global sustainability team and led ESG strategy through the company’s IPO. She spearheaded industry-leading initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the dairy sector and has partnered across supply chains and sectors to drive measurable sustainability impact. Earlier, she held senior roles at Mars Inc., the U.S. State Department, and USAID.

Ashley holds advanced degrees in Environmental Policy and Natural Resources, with honours from Indiana University and the University of Illinois. Recognised globally for her sustainability leadership, she combines strategic insight with practical expertise in reporting, responsible sourcing, and delivering measurable environmental and business results.

Muhammad Chbib leads the company’s global digital transformation. He oversees the development of data-driven platforms, technology integration, and digital capabilities that enhance operational efficiency, strengthen customer engagement, and support Unifrutti’s growth as a global multi-fruit leader.

With over two decades of experience in digital strategy, e-commerce, and innovation, Muhammad has held senior roles across Europe and the Middle East, including at McKinsey & Company. He is founded and scaled several successful ventures  and his career reflects deep expertise in building high-performing digital businesses and leading transformation at scale.

Muhammad holds a business degree from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management.

Pierre van Rensburg is the Chief Farming Officer of Unifrutti Group and joined in 2025. He leads global farming operations across its key fruit categories. With over 20 years of experience in large-scale horticulture, Pierre oversees agricultural strategy, orchard performance, and sustainable production across multiple geographies.

Before joining Unifrutti, Pierre was General Manager for Citrus and Grapes at Costa Group, Australia’s leading fresh produce company. He also held senior roles at Olam and Olam Food Ingredients (ofi), managing international farming operations, and began his career with Paramount Citrus and Trade Winds Citrus.

Originally from South Africa, Pierre holds a Diploma in Agriculture from Potchefstroom College of Agriculture. He brings a strong combination of field expertise and strategic leadership to Unifrutti.

Graham Watt is an experienced legal executive with a strong background in corporate law, governance, and regulatory compliance.  Currently also serving as Counsel for ADQ, he has held senior roles both in-house and in private practice, advising international organizations on complex commercial matters and guiding leaders through evolving legal and regulatory landscapes.

As Chief Legal Officer, Graham ensures the organization operates with integrity and robust risk management. He works closely with senior leadership to align legal strategy with business priorities, support major transactions, and reinforce a proactive approach to compliance across all operations.

Lisa Barnard brings over 25 years of experience in marketing and communications, with proven strengths in brand building, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement. Her career spans senior roles that combine creative vision with commercial discipline.

She is also the owner of Illustrated London News Ltd (ILN), a content-marketing agency specializing in the luxury, travel, and heritage sectors. This background has sharpened her ability to fuse compelling storytelling with effective brand strategy. As part of Unifrutti’s Leadership Team, Lisa now leverages this expertise to strengthen the Group’s global brand presence and support its growth across international food and retail markets.

An Oxford University graduate, Lisa is known for her collaborative leadership style and deep understanding of global consumer trends. She is committed to positioning Unifrutti as a trusted, premium brand worldwide.