Michele (Mitch) Oliver

Mitch has a track record of delivering growth and innovation by bringing the voice of the customer into the boardroom. She is an expert in building global brands that stand the test of time - both consumer and corporate. She has expertise in unlocking environmental, social and governance (ESG) as a value driver, with a specific focus on social value and equity, inclusion and diversity. She passionately believes that business can be both for profit and for good and spends her time and energy delivering both.

As the Vice President of Brand and Purpose at Mars Incorporated, a global family-owned business with $40 billion+ sales and 150,000 employees, Mitch is responsible for shaping and communicating the brand identity and vision of the company. In her time in role, she has moved the reputation of Mars Incorporated into the top quartile of global companies.

With almost 30 years of experience in the consumer goods industry, she has a deep understanding of how to grow brands that resonate with customers and stakeholders, and how to leverage ESG as a driver of business and social value.

Mitch is also passionate about using her skills to contribute to the areas of human rights/inclusion, economics, and communications. She is Chair of UN Women UK (fighting for all women to have safety, choice and a voice), trustee on the board of Pro Bono Economics, (who help NGOs understand and improve their impact), deputy vice chair of the Unstereotype Alliance (a Global initiative of UN Women that aims to eliminate harmful gender stereotypes in advertising) and Chair of The Project PT (an inclusive health & wellbeing social enterprise). She also acts as a board advisor to three SMEs and is a qualified executive coach, accredited by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council.

At Saïd Business School she is active in the Future of Marketing Initiative, and passionate about supporting the research into  hypotheses that business can be both for profit and for good. She has worked with the School on the 'Here to be heard' report that asked over 10000 women what it will take for women to reach their full potential at work, and, more recently, 'The business case for inclusive advertising' with the UN’s Unstereotype Alliance and the school’s Marketing Faculty.