Search engines occasionally link two very different public figures together, and that’s exactly the case with Dirk Van de Put, the Belgian-American CEO of Mondelez International, and former U.S. President Barack Obama. At first glance, a global snack-food executive and a former head of state seem to have little in common.
This article traces the real, documented link between them, while giving a full, accurate picture of who each man is and what their careers actually involve.
Quick Answer
Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama are not directly connected. Their names are linked through a third person, Ertharin Cousin, who served in the Obama Administration and later joined Mondelez International’s Board of Directors under Van de Put’s leadership.
TL;DR
- Dirk Van de Put is Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International
- Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States
- Ertharin Cousin served as a U.S. Ambassador under Obama and joined Mondelez’s board in 2022
- There is no record of Van de Put and Obama working together directly
- The connection is institutional, not personal
Why Are Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama Mentioned Together?
The connection in one simple chain
The link between these two names follows a clear, documented chain: Dirk Van de Put, as CEO of Mondelez International, announced the appointment of Ertharin Cousin to the company’s Board of Directors in November 2021, effective January 2022. Cousin’s official biography highlights her role as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies during the Obama Administration, which is the factual basis for the search association between Van de Put and Obama.
What this connection does not prove
This chain does not indicate that Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama have ever met, worked together, or had any direct professional relationship. The connection exists entirely through Cousin’s prior government service, not through any documented interaction between Van de Put and the former president.
Who Is Dirk Van de Put?
Dirk Van de Put is a Belgian-American business executive serving as Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International, the global snacking and food company behind brands like Oreo, Cadbury, and Ritz. A dual citizen of Belgium and the United States, he holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Ghent in Belgium.
What does Dirk Van de Put do now?
As of 2026, Van de Put continues to lead Mondelez International as Chairman and CEO, a position he has held since 2017, overseeing the company’s global snack food portfolio and strategic direction.
Why Van de Put matters to this search
Van de Put’s relevance to this search comes entirely through his role in appointing Ertharin Cousin to Mondelez’s board, a decision he publicly announced and endorsed as CEO.
Who Is Barack Obama?
Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017, becoming the first African American president in U.S. history. Since leaving office, he has remained active in public life through writing, public speaking, and philanthropic work via the Obama Foundation.
Why Obama matters to this search
Obama’s connection to this topic comes solely through his administration’s appointment of Ertharin Cousin as Ambassador to United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies, a role she held before later joining Mondelez’s board under Van de Put.
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Who Is Ertharin Cousin and Why Does She Matter?
Ertharin Cousin is the critical link between these two names. With more than 30 years of experience across government, nonprofit, and corporate food sectors, her career includes:
- Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme
- Ambassador and Permanent Representative to United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies under President Obama
- Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of America’s Second Harvest
- Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at Albertsons Companies
- Founder, President, and CEO of the Food Systems for the Future Institute
- Board member at Bayer AG and Mondelez International
Did Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama Work Together?
Direct relationship versus institutional connection
No, there is no documented evidence that Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama have ever worked together directly. Their only connection runs through Ertharin Cousin, whose government service under Obama preceded her board appointment at Mondelez under Van de Put’s leadership, years after Obama left office.
Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama Compared
| Category | Dirk Van de Put | Barack Obama |
| Nationality | Belgian-American | American |
| Primary Role | Chairman & CEO, Mondelez International | 44th President of the United States |
| Industry | Consumer Goods, Food & Snacking | Government, Public Service |
| Education | Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent | Law Degree, Harvard Law School |
| Years in Current/Former Role | CEO since 2017 | President from 2009–2017 |
| Shared Connection | Appointed Ertharin Cousin to Mondelez board | Appointed Cousin as UN Ambassador |
What We Know and What Remains Unverified
Verified facts
- Dirk Van de Put has been Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International since 2017
- Ertharin Cousin served as Ambassador to UN Food and Agriculture Agencies during the Obama Administration
- Van de Put publicly announced Cousin’s appointment to Mondelez’s board in November 2021
Information that should be treated carefully
- Any assumption that Van de Put and Obama have met or communicated directly is not supported by public records
Information that should not be presented as fact
- Claims of a personal friendship, business partnership, or direct collaboration between Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama are not supported by any credible source
Conclusion
Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama represent two very different worlds — global corporate leadership and American political history — connected only through a shared professional relationship with Ertharin Cousin. Her path from U.S. government service under Obama to the Mondelez boardroom under Van de Put is the entire, documented basis for their names appearing together.
Beyond that institutional thread, there’s no evidence of any direct relationship between the two men, a reminder that search engine associations don’t always reflect a genuine personal connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama connected?
Only indirectly, through Ertharin Cousin, who served under Obama and later joined Mondelez’s board under Van de Put.
Did Dirk Van de Put and Barack Obama ever meet?
There is no public record confirming they have ever met directly.
Who is Ertharin Cousin?
A former UN Ambassador under Obama who later joined Mondelez International’s Board of Directors in 2022.
What company does Dirk Van de Put lead?
He is Chairman and CEO of Mondelez International.
When did Ertharin Cousin join Mondelez’s board?
She was appointed in November 2021, effective January 1, 2022.
What is Dirk Van de Put’s educational background?
He holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Ghent, Belgium.
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