Onurkan Astan

Onurkan Astan, PhD has a strong background in sales, business development, and marketing. Onurkan currently holds the position of International Sales Director at Dardanel, where they lead the international sales team and is responsible for developing Dardanel Group's sales in various categories. During their tenure, they successfully increased international net sales by 35% and profitability by 48%, resulting in doubled operational profit. Onurkan also played a key role in establishing export operations from Dardanel's newly acquired factory in Greece and expanding exports from their factories in Turkey.

Prior to their current role, Onurkan worked at pladis Global as a Senior Sales, Business Development, and Marketing Manager. In this position, they led marketing efforts and was responsible for new product development aligned with market objectives. Onurkan also held the role of Senior Sales and Business Development Manager for Eastern & Southern Europe, where they oversaw teams in 24 countries and managed multiple snacks and confectionery categories. Onurkan successfully executed the consolidation of distributor networks and implemented go-to-market strategies for new market entries.

Earlier in their career, Onurkan worked at Yıldız Holding in various export-related roles, including Export Country Manager, Export Account Manager, and Sales Support Specialist.

Overall, Onurkan Astan, PhD has a proven track record of driving sales growth, implementing effective marketing strategies, and managing international operations in the food industry.

Onurkan Astan, PhD, began their education at Bilkent University, where they earned their Bachelor's degree in International Relations from 2004 to 2008. Onurkan then went on to pursue a Master of Arts in European Political Economy at the University of Birmingham from 2008 to 2009. After a break in their academic journey, they resumed their studies at Bahcesehir University in 2016. Onurkan is currently working towards a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing, which is expected to be completed by 2023.