Mehmet Yuksek To Leave Perfetti Van Melle North America

ERLANGER, KY – Confectioner Perfetti Van Melle announces that, effective August 17, Mehmet Yuksek leave his position as President and CEO of Perfetti Van Melle North America. Until Perfetti Van Melle Group Leadership has identified a successor, Fred King, CFO of Perfetti Van Melle North America, will serve as interim CEO.

With more than 21 years at Perfetti Van Melle, Yuksek served as US CEO for five years before adding Mexico to his US and Canada responsibilities, and assuming the role of President and CEO, Perfetti Van Melle North America.

Perfetti Van Melle USA saw double-digit organic growth under Yuksek’s tenure and became a top five player in confectionery market. In 2017, the US headquarters in Erlanger, KY increased its manufacturing capacity and grew in personnel by 20 percent, now employing more than 360 people.

Yuksek states that the decision to leave a company he loves was not an easy for him to make. “I have been both fortunate and very proud to spend the past 21 years working with such a great company and with so many wonderfully talented individuals. My colleagues, as well as our customers, brokers and consumers, made my role at Perfetti Van Melle both a pleasure and an honor.”

With Yuksek at the helm, the company also earned extensive recognition for its work culture and its products alike. In 2018, Erlanger’s Perfetti Van Melle USA received Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Business Impact Award. The company has also received a 2017 Cincy Magazine MANNY Award, naming the company a “Best Place to Work” among Greater Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky manufacturing companies.

About Perfetti Van Melle:

Perfetti Van Melle is a privately owned global company that was established in March 2001 through the merger of Perfetti SpA and Van Melle Group B.V. Perfetti Van Melle manufactures and markets sugar confectionery and chewing gum products in more than 150 countries. Today, Perfetti Van Melle is one of the world’s largest confectionery groups, marketing highly renowned brands such as Mentos, Frisk, Chupa Chups, Smint, Fruittella, Alpenliebe, Golia, Vivdent, Airheads, Happydent & Big Babol. The Group has corporate headquarters in Italy and The Netherlands. U.S. operations are operated solely out of Erlanger, KY.