JACKSON, Mich. — To ensure continued global success, Dawn Food Products, Inc. today announced the creation of a Co-CEO leadership model with each CEO having equal responsibility and authority. Joining current CEO Carrie Jones-Barber as fellow CEO is Serhat Unsal, former President of Dawn Foods International.
In announcing the changes, Jones-Barber said, “As our business has become more complex and increasingly global, this model enables Dawn to be even more successful. By broadening our knowledge and experience at the senior leadership level, and by driving a more collaborative work environment, we will deliver significant opportunity for our company, our team members and our customers.”
Between the two, Jones-Barber and Unsal have more than four decades of global leadership experience, building highly accomplished teams that deliver growth through innovation and exceptional service. The new leadership model at Dawn will fully leverage this wealth of top leadership experience.
“Dawn is preparing to enter a new era of growth and success,” said Serhat Unsal. “I look forward to working with Carrie as we focus on delivering a 50 percent growth in revenues and tripling our profitability over the next four years. The new Co-CEO structure enables us to collaboratively reach the intricate decisions needed to deliver this aggressive target and proactively drive our strategic direction globally.”
Carrie Jones-Barber – Chief Executive Officer
Since Carrie Jones-Barber became Chief Executive Officer of Dawn Food Products in 2006, the company has become more firmly established as a global leader in the sweet side of bakery. Jones-Barber is the third generation of the Jones family to lead Dawn, serving along with other family members and team members worldwide to ensure the organization retains a strong focus on people, products, customers and sustainable growth.
Prior to becoming Dawn CEO, Jones-Barber was President of Dawn Foods International. She was responsible for developing an effective business strategy that delivered growth and profitability in Dawn’s international operations. Jones-Barber’s past experience with Dawn also includes a role as business development manager for Dawn Foods UK Ltd., where she helped secure business opportunities in the U.K. and Europe.
Jones-Barber holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Western Michigan University, and a MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University. As part of her commitment to ongoing growth as a leader, she is a member of the Committee of 200 (C200), a membership organization including the world’s most successful women entrepreneurs and corporate innovators. C200 has over 400 members who collectively generate more than $1.4 trillion in annual revenues.
Serhat Unsal – Chief Executive Officer
Sharing CEO responsibilities with Carrie Jones-Barber, Serhat Unsal leverages his extensive global leadership experience to help drive greater growth and success for Dawn. After achieving increasing responsibility and success as a leader during 18 years with Unilever, Unsal joined Dawn in early 2011. As President of Dawn Foods International from 2011-2016, Unsal led Dawn’s global growth in the company’s key European markets along with emerging markets in Africa, Middle East, Asia/Pacific and Latin America.
Unsal has been an essential source of leadership and experience during the company’s acquisition and successful integration of a major high-quality, premium bakery ingredient supplier into Dawn’s global organization. He is a dynamic leader who is committed to optimizing the different strengths of team members to deliver exceptional results and business growth.
Unsal has achieved two advanced degrees – a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA from the University of Toronto.
About Dawn Food Products, Inc.
At Dawn Foods, we are passionately committed to creating life’s sweet moments for people all around the world. From our first donut mix, which established us as a trusted partner for expert bakers to our fully finished desserts and pastries that meet the changing tastes of today’s consumers, Dawn Foods offers a complete selection of innovative products including mixes, bases, ices, glazes, fillings, frozen dough, par-baked and fully baked products. Created with the highest quality to deliver the taste, texture and trends the world wants, Dawn Foods is proud to work with retail bakers, food service leaders, manufacturers and in-store bakeries across the globe. Through our expansive Dawn Distributors Advantage® network, we serve customers through the buying power of more than 40 facilities across North America. With locations in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa, we bring our customers the power of global leadership combined with local service and a commitment to delivering success through relationships that last. For more information about our company, our products and our culture, please visit www.dawnfoods.com.
Source: Dawn Food Products, Inc.
