Danone picks ex-Kimberly-Clark comms lead as new SEA head of comms

Danone has named Sharon Roberts (pictured) as head of communications for Southeast Asia, tasking her with steering the company’s storytelling across a highly regulated, purpose-driven food and nutrition sector.

Roberts, who joined Danone in at the end of 2025, brings extensive experience in corporate communications, government affairs, and events management. Her previous roles include leading communications for Kimberly-Clark Southeast Asia, as well as heading PR, events, and government affairs at Shopee Malaysia.

“I am really excited about taking on the responsibility of leading communications for Danone across Southeast Asia,” Roberts told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE. “Being now in a highly regulated industry with a strong purpose of bringing health through food to as many as possible, I consider this change to be more than a category shift. It is a mindset shift encompassing a new industry, new codes to navigate, different stakes and a bigger mandate.”

Don't miss: UEM Edgenta picks former MCMC comms director as new corporate comms head 

Roberts highlighted the strategic direction she intends to pursue for the region. “In recent years, our storytelling in Southeast Asia has been anchored in science-based, community-focused nutrition and sustainability efforts. As we move into our next chapter, we aim to build on this foundation with a more unified, insight-led narrative that reflects Danone’s global leadership in Specialized Nutrition,” she explained.

Her focus is on making science-led nutrition accessible and relatable to consumers, while remaining culturally attuned. “Our goal is to translate our scientific leadership into more human, culturally attuned storytelling that strengthens our voice in public dialogue on children nutrition, public health and sustainability."

This means ensuring every story it tells is grounded in real societal needs and the role the company and brands including Aptamil Kid, Dumex Dugro and Hi Q S-Kool can play in improving nutrition, health and access. "While maintaining scientific rigor and measurable outcomes to build credibility with increasingly discerning consumers,” Roberts added.

She believes that integrating purpose, evidence, and cultural insight is central to effective communications. “By uniting the heart-led stories consumers value with the science and insight that define Danone, communications can play an active, strategic role in advancing our brands, strengthening parent trust, and supporting the region’s ambition for healthier futures,” Roberts said.

Reflecting on her career journey, Roberts noted: “Over the span of my career, from shaping Malaysia’s eCommerce conversations at Shopee to driving purpose-led communications for brands like Kotex, Huggies, Poise, Kleenex and Scott at Kimberly-Clark, I have always been guided by one core belief: communications is most powerful when it fuses purpose, evidence and cultural insight to drive both trust and commercial performance.”

With Roberts at the helm, Danone aims to strengthen its narrative around scientific rigor, societal impact, and culturally relevant storytelling to engage consumers and stakeholders across Southeast Asia.

In other recent people movements within the communications industry in Malaysia, UEM Edgenta has appointed Budi Citawan W Hanafi (pictured) as its new head of corporate communications, effective early March 2026. She takes over the helm of group communications from Wan Laila Fatihah Wan Omar Sukri, who has moved on to AEON Credit Service after two and a half years with UEM Edgenta.

Meanwhile, Azmi Yaakop, chief strategic communications officer at FGV Holdings, is approaching the conclusion of his four-year contract, officially wrapping up his tenure at the end of June 2026.

Last month, OSK Group appointed Amelia Lim as its new head of group corporate communications, bringing more than two decades of experience in corporate storytelling and reputation management to the conglomerate's management team. She officially stepped into the role on 2 January 2026.

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