293. Xenia Barth, CEO at Merz Lifecare Holding: OTC, Cultural Nuances, Leaving a Company after 20 years, Leading a Mega-Merger
Release Date: 01/03/2026
298. Gentiane Barret, Global Head of Media eCommerce and Content Live in Barcelona: An Industry Outside, In-housing, Bold Moves, Digital Shelf, Retail Media
The FMCG Guys
Watch on YouTube: is the Global Head of Media eCommerce and Content at Consumer Health Leader Opella (former Sanofi Consumer Healthcare). An unusual leader in our industry, having worked at the likes of Google and Bain & Company prior, she joins Daniel live from his Barcelona office to speak about her bold approach to building digital capabilities, Retail Media and much more. Tune in to hear about: How her unorthodox background (within Consumer Goods) has shaped her “change agent” role Adapting to different company cultures and working styles (in Tech, Consulting and...
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297. Charles Waters, President International at Revlon Live in Barcelona: A Beauty Revival, Managing a Chapter 11, Entrepreneur to Corporate, Cultural Relevance
The FMCG Guys
Watch on YouTube: Charles Waters the President of International at Beauty Icon Revlon. With an interesting personal story, having grown up in Barcelona with an English background (as the name indicates), we sit with him at their Barcelona office to speak about how he’s built his career, stayed loyal and now is aiming for a big comeback after some troubled years that included filing Chapter 11. Tune in to hear about: How he started his career being an entrepreneur and then going corporate Growing through the ranks up to the C-Level through changing geographies and functions Revlon’s...
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296. Lavinia Capresi, Senior Marketing Director EMEA at Habsro: Play Communities, Selling to Kids and "Kidults", Toys after COVID, Board Games
The FMCG Guys
is the Senior Marketing Director EMEA at Toys Leader Hasbro. Now looking after their Fashion and Preschool portfolio, she joins Christine and Daniel to share her journey at the company across local (Italy) and regional Marketing roles, her passion for board games, how communities are boosting the category, how they approach their consumers (kids and adults) and more. Tune in to hear about: - Lavinia’s Marketing Career - Curiosities about the Toy category - COVID’s impact on toys and play in general - How to cater to different...
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295. Rutger Rozendaal, CEO at The Vegetarian Butcher: Present of Future of Plant Based, Leading as a Millenial, Lobbying, Societal benefits of eating less meat
The FMCG Guys
is the CEO at Plant-based Leader The Vegetarian Butcher. He joins Efrain and Daniel to speak about where the category is in this crucial time, how his business is building a brand to escape commodification, how grocery is betting on the category and how it is to lead a business as a (relatively) young leader. Tune in to hear about: Rutger’s career path from Consulting to Unilever and now leading a business The status of the plant-based category after years of ups and downs How Grocery Retailers perceive the plant-based category Why everyone will win if plant-based wins What...
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294. Natalie James, Head of eCommerce Europe at Brown-Forman: Future of eCom, eB2B, Retail Media, AI and L&D
The FMCG Guys
is the Head of eCommerce Europe at spirits leader Brown-Forman, owner of the famous Jack Daniels brand. A thought leader in the Digital FMCG space, which she ended up in in a rather surprising way, she joins the podcast to speak about her career, an exciting project in eB2B and her vision of the industry. Tune in to hear about: Her career: FMCG, going into self-employed Consulting and leading eCommerce Developing a premium eB2B DTC proposition for French "Cavists" How Digital can be a change agent for other functions in a company Who should own Retail Media Learning & Development: why is...
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293. Xenia Barth, CEO at Merz Lifecare Holding: OTC, Cultural Nuances, Leaving a Company after 20 years, Leading a Mega-Merger
The FMCG Guys
is the Chief Executive Officer at Merz Lifecare Holding, a leader in Health, Wellness and Beauty in the OTC space with a very strong presence in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and part of the larger Merz Group (Pharma). With an international and cross-functional background in FMCG at the likes of Henkel and Reckitt, she speaks with Efrain and Daniel about her journey, lessons learnt and what her vision is for the business she’s leading today. Tune in to hear about: Her career in FMCG working in Germany, Spain, Mexico and the US Cultural nuances when leading in other markets Key criteria...
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292. Meet the Hosts with Christine Nikolaou, Efrain Rosario and Daniel Torres
The FMCG Guys
In this special episode of The FMCG Guys, we are joined by… your favourite hosts: Efrain, Cristina and Daniel! Yes, tune in to get to know our respective festive traditions and, later, hear about some of their personal stories, anecdotes, quirky work habits and more. We wish you all a fantastic festive season and start to 2026! More Follow us on Instagram: Follow us on LinkedIn: Audio Mixing by Modest Ferrer Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and...
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Kristof Neirynck, CMO at Avon: How to Reinvent a Heritage Brand (August 2023)
The FMCG Guys
is the CEO at Avon. He visited us back in August 2023 when he was CMO and General Manager Western Europe at Avon to share how he's transforming a brand with a huge legacy to make it succesful in the future. Tune in to learn about: Kristof's Career Path prior to joining Avon Transforming a company's cutlure Avon's B2B2C business model in the 21st century How Avon is getting ready to be succesful in the future Book Recommendation: Jim Collins - From Good to Great
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291. Andrew Lipsman, Retail Media Analyst, Live from RMSUK '25: In-Store, Untapped Opportunities, CMOs, US vs EU
The FMCG Guys
Watch on YouTube: is one of the world’s most respected Retail Media’s Opinion Leaders. We sat with him at SMG and ADWEEK’s Retail Media Summit UK to speak about the latest trends, what Retailers are doing and, ultimately, how brands and CMOs may be underestimating this Media Channel’s true potential. Tune in to hear about: In-Store Retail Media Differences between the US and Europe Measurement, transparency and standardisation What FMCGs are (and are not) doing Check out Andrew's appearances on The CPG Guys here: More Follow us on Instagram: Follow us on...
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290. Rob Edwards, Head of Media and Digital at Arla Foods UK: Retail Media, Quality Content, Brand Humour and An Outsider's Perspective
The FMCG Guys
Watch on YouTube: is dairy leader Arla Foods’ Head of Media and Digital in the UK. He joins us live from SMG and ADWEEK’s Retail Media Summit UK 2025 to speak about his vision of what Media means to FMCGs today – especially as a rare outsider to the industry! Tune in to hear about: Why Retail Media is just “Media” Finding simplicity within a increasingly fragmented media ecosystem How partnerships could connect the omnichannel journey Brands: how they can find the right tone that resounds with consumers The importance creating quality content More Follow us on...
info_outlineXenia Barth is the Chief Executive Officer at Merz Lifecare Holding, a leader in Health, Wellness and Beauty in the OTC space with a very strong presence in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and part of the larger Merz Group (Pharma). With an international and cross-functional background in FMCG at the likes of Henkel and Reckitt, she speaks with Efrain and Daniel about her journey, lessons learnt and what her vision is for the business she’s leading today.
Tune in to hear about:
- Her career in FMCG working in Germany, Spain, Mexico and the US
- Cultural nuances when leading in other markets
- Key criteria when taking new roles
- Learning and perfecting the art of leadership
- How a bad management fit made her leave Henkel after 20 years
- Merz: the OTC category, her mandate and the mega-acquisition of WindStar Medical
More
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Audio Mixing by Modest Ferrer
Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.