In the world of global business, influence can take many forms. Some leaders build their reputations through consumer brands that become part of everyday life, while others transform how people communicate, work, play, and interact with technology. Dirk Van de Put and Pony Ma represent these two very different paths.
Dirk Van de Put is a Belgian-American business executive who has spent decades working across the consumer packaged goods, food, and beverage industries. He is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mondelēz International and, since June 2026, Chairman of the Board of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev).
Pony Ma, whose Chinese name is Ma Huateng, is the co-founder, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Executive Officer of Tencent. From the company’s early internet ambitions to its development into a major technology and digital-services group, Ma has been closely associated with Tencent’s long-term strategic direction.
Although their industries are dramatically different, their careers reveal how modern leadership can shape companies with global reach.
Dirk Van de Put: A Career Built Across Global Consumer Brands
Dirk Van de Put’s career is notable for its breadth. Rather than building his experience in one company or one market, he worked across several major international consumer businesses.
According to Mondelēz International, Van de Put spent the early part of his career in sales and marketing roles at Mars and The Coca-Cola Company. He later held senior positions at Groupe Danone and Novartis before becoming President and CEO of McCain Foods.
This international experience became an important part of his professional profile. His career has included work across Europe, Latin America, North America, and other global markets, giving him experience with both developed and emerging economies.
Van de Put joined Mondelēz International as CEO in November 2017 and became Chair in April 2018. The company describes him as having more than 30 years of experience in the food and consumer packaged goods industries.
His academic background is also somewhat unusual for a major corporate executive. Van de Put holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Ghent and a postgraduate business degree from the University of Antwerp. He is also fluent in Dutch, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Leading Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International operates some of the world’s most recognizable snack brands. Its portfolio includes Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar, Tate’s Bake Shop, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka, and Toblerone. The company reported approximately $38.5 billion in net revenue for 2025.
Van de Put’s leadership therefore operates on a massive international scale. The challenge is not simply selling individual products. A global food company must understand different consumer preferences, manage complex supply chains, maintain recognizable brands, and respond to changing expectations around health, sustainability, pricing, and convenience.
In July 2026, Mondelēz reported second-quarter results showing 4.1% growth in net revenues and 2.2% growth in organic net revenues. The company said growth remained strong in emerging markets and highlighted developments in North America and Europe.
These figures illustrate the scale at which Van de Put operates. His role involves balancing long-established brands with changing consumer markets around the world.
A New Role at AB InBev
Van de Put’s corporate responsibilities expanded further in June 2026.
AB InBev announced that its board unanimously selected Van de Put as Chairman, effective June 16, 2026. He had previously served as an independent director of the company since April 2023.
AB InBev is one of the world’s largest brewing companies, with a portfolio that includes internationally recognized brands such as Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, and Michelob Ultra. The company reported 2025 revenue of $59.3 billion, excluding joint ventures and associates.
His appointment adds another chapter to a career that has consistently crossed international consumer industries. It also places him in a governance role at a company operating across more than 40 countries.
Pony Ma: From Internet Pioneer to Technology Leader
While Dirk Van de Put built his career around physical consumer products and global brands, Pony Ma emerged from the early internet industry.
Born Ma Huateng, Pony Ma studied computer science and computer applications at Shenzhen University. Before Tencent, he worked on research and development involving internet paging systems at China Motion Telecom Development Limited.
In 1998, Ma co-founded Tencent. The company initially became known for QQ, its desktop instant-messaging service, which helped establish Tencent as an important participant in China’s rapidly developing internet industry.
Today, Ma serves as Tencent’s co-founder, Chairman of the Board, and CEO. Tencent describes him as responsible for the company’s strategic planning, positioning, and overall management.
The Evolution of Tencent
Tencent’s development illustrates how quickly the technology industry can change.
The company’s early identity was closely associated with internet communication. Over time, its ecosystem expanded into areas including social networking, digital entertainment, gaming, cloud services, and other technology-related businesses.
One of Tencent’s best-known products is WeChat, which has become an important multipurpose digital platform. Tencent also operates a substantial gaming and entertainment business.
Ma’s approach to technology has frequently emphasized usefulness and connectivity. In a 2021 article published by Tencent, he reflected on his early experiences with the internet and explained that he was particularly interested in designing technology that could be useful to large numbers of people.
That philosophy helps explain an important characteristic of Tencent’s development: technology is often presented not simply as a standalone product but as part of a broader digital ecosystem.
Different Industries, Similar Global Reach
At first glance, Dirk Van de Put and Pony Ma appear to have little in common.
One operates primarily in food, snacks, beverages, and consumer products. The other leads a technology company involved in communication, entertainment, gaming, and digital services.
Yet both executives operate businesses that depend on understanding millions of consumers.
For Van de Put, understanding consumers can mean recognizing changing tastes, shopping patterns, brand preferences, and price sensitivity.
For Ma, understanding consumers involves examining how people communicate, consume entertainment, use digital services, and interact with online platforms.
The products may be different, but the fundamental leadership challenge is surprisingly similar: organizations must remain relevant while markets and consumer expectations change.
Technology, Innovation, and Social Responsibility
Pony Ma’s public discussions about technology have also included questions surrounding its broader social role.
Tencent has promoted a concept known as “Tech for Good,” connecting technological development with social value. In a 2023 letter, Ma discussed initiatives intended to use technology to support emergency response and community assistance.
Tencent has also described digitalization as a major force affecting businesses and society. Ma has argued that technology companies have responsibilities beyond simply creating commercial products.
This provides another dimension to his public profile. His career is not solely about the growth of an internet company; it also reflects broader debates about how technology should interact with society.
Two Leadership Stories, One Global Business Landscape
The careers of Dirk Van de Put and Pony Ma demonstrate two different routes to global corporate influence.
Van de Put’s story is one of international consumer leadership. His professional journey through Mars, Coca-Cola, Danone, Novartis, McCain Foods, and Mondelēz has given him experience across several major industries and markets. His appointment as AB InBev Chairman in 2026 further expanded his responsibilities within the global consumer and beverage sector.
Pony Ma’s story is rooted in the transformation of the internet. From co-founding Tencent in 1998, he has remained closely connected to the company’s strategic development as it expanded from messaging into a much broader technology ecosystem.
Their stories also show that modern business leadership is increasingly global. A snack brand can reach consumers across continents, just as a digital platform can connect people across borders.
Conclusion
Dirk Van de Put and Pony Ma come from different professional backgrounds and lead companies operating in very different industries. Yet both have built careers around a central challenge of modern business: understanding how people live, communicate, consume, and respond to changing markets.
Van de Put’s career demonstrates the importance of international experience in the consumer goods sector, while Ma’s career reflects the rapid evolution of technology and digital communication.
From Mondelēz’s famous snack brands to Tencent’s vast digital ecosystem, their professional journeys offer two distinct examples of how executives can shape organizations that influence everyday life on a global scale.
As consumer habits, technology, and international markets continue to evolve, the careers of figures such as Dirk Van de Put and Pony Ma provide an interesting window into the changing nature of global business leadership.
FAQs
Who is Dirk Van de Put?
Dirk Van de Put is a Belgian business executive who serves as Chairman and CEO of Mondelēz International. He has extensive experience in the global food and consumer goods industries.
Who is Pony Ma?
Pony Ma, also known as Ma Huateng, is the co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Tencent Holdings, one of China’s major technology companies.
What company does Dirk Van de Put lead?
Dirk Van de Put leads Mondelēz International, the global snack company behind brands such as Oreo, Cadbury, Ritz, and Toblerone.
What is Pony Ma known for?
Pony Ma is known for co-founding Tencent and helping guide its development from an internet messaging company into a major technology and digital entertainment group.
When did Dirk Van de Put become Chairman of AB InBev?
Dirk Van de Put became Chairman of the Board of AB InBev in June 2026.
What is Tencent known for?
Tencent is known for products and services including WeChat, QQ, online gaming, digital entertainment, cloud services, and other technology businesses.
What do Dirk Van de Put and Pony Ma have in common?
Both are senior executives leading major multinational companies and have built careers around understanding changing consumer needs, international markets, and business innovation.
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