Cem Karakaş
Chairman, Glacier

Skills and experience: Cem became Chairman of Glacier in January 2025. He brings over 20 years of global leadership experience across food, consumer goods and industrial sectors, with a strong record in M&A, integration, capital markets and large-scale transformation. Cem is also a Partner at Afendis Capital Management, where he champions operational excellence and long-term value creation across its portfolio companies.

Before Afendis, he was CEO of Pladis Global — the international snacking company behind McVitie’s and Jacob's — and previously served as Executive Deputy Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Yıldız Holding, the largest food conglomerate in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has also held senior finance and board roles at Godiva Chocolatier and Erdemir Group.

Key responsibilities: Cem chairs the Glacier Board, guiding the Group’s strategic direction, governance and growth agenda in partnership with the Afendis Capital Management team.

Favourite Glacier creation: Choco Sandwich— simple, satisfying and proof that great products speak for themselves.