Chobani Australia (Chobani) is pleased to announce the appointments of Ishani Samarasekera as Director – Finance & IT and Sami Cannone as General Manager – Sales. These appointments bring further depth and momentum to Chobani’s senior leadership as the business continues to push towards its bold ambition: to be in every fridge, everywhere, every day.
Together, Ms Samarasekera and Ms Cannone bring a powerful mix of commercial insight, transformation mindset and values-led leadership that will further strengthen Chobani’s impact across Australia and New Zealand.
Ms Samarasekera joins Chobani from General Mills, where she led finance across Europe and Australia, spanning six countries in a $1.5 billion business. With a decade of senior finance experience in Melbourne and Switzerland across Strategy, FP&A, Operations and Governance, Ms Samarasekera will oversee Finance, Strategy, IT and Integrated Business Planning at Chobani.
“I’m thrilled to be joining a team that pairs bold ambition with a real sense of purpose,” said Ms Samarasekera. “At Chobani, we’re not just growing – we’re building a business that’s smarter, more connected, and fit for the future. I look forward to unlocking value across the organisation by bringing together great people, strong systems, and bold ideas.”
Ms Cannone steps into the role of General Manager – Sales, bringing nearly 20 years’ experience across sales, account management and commercial strategy. Her career includes leadership roles with Mars Petcare, Sun Road Food & Beverage, Frucor Beverages and Coca-Cola Amatil, spanning field, grocery and emerging channels.
“I’m excited to be joining a team that’s redefining what good growth looks like,” said Ms Cannone. “Chobani’s mission to bring better food to more people deeply resonates with me, and I’m energised by the opportunity to work with our customers to deliver shared success. Strong partnerships are at the heart of great outcomes – and I’m looking forward to building even deeper, more strategic relationships that help bring Chobani and Gippsland Dairy to more fridges across Australia and New Zealand.”
Chobani Managing Director – Australia & New Zealand Scott Hadley said the appointments mark an exciting new chapter for the business.
“At Chobani, we’ve always believed that great people build great businesses. With Ishani and Sami now on board, we’ve completed a senior team that’s primed to lead with purpose, challenge the status quo, and fuel the next wave of growth for Chobani and Gippsland Dairy. We’re focused on delivering food that’s delicious, nutritious and made the right way – while growing our positive impact in the communities we serve.”
These appointments reinforce Chobani’s ongoing commitment to leadership excellence and values-led growth, ensuring the business is well-positioned to meet the needs of consumers today and tomorrow.
