Filipina named new Nestlé CFO

MANILA, Philippines- University of the Philippines alumnus Wan Ling Martello has been named to take over as Nestle SA’s chief financial officer. Martello was formerly with Wal-Mart.

Nestle’s shares reportedly gained more than one percent due to analysts’ belief in Martello’s experience of the retail industry and emerging markets.

Martello was born in the Philippines of Chinese and Filipino extraction.

The Certified Public Accountant graduated from the UP and earned her MBA from University of Minnesota.

She has a vast knowledge of the finance and control area, and solid experience in the food and beverage business as well as in the retail segment.

She worked with Kraft Foods (1985-1995) in finance and business administration as well as with Borden Foods Corp. (1995-1998) as corporate controller.

From 1998-2005 she was with NCH Marketing Services Inc., a former subsidiary of Nielsen, as CFO, chief operating officer and then president USA.

From 2005-2011, Martello gained in-depth knowledge of the retail and e-commerce business at Wal-Mart where she was senior vice president, CFO & Strategy, Wal-Mart International and then executive vice president, COO, Global e-commerce, Emerging Markets.  

Besides her financial background, Martello also has an extensive insight of the consumer and branded goods category.  

She will be Nestle’s highest ranking female executive.