ERLANGER, Ky. – Sylvia Buxton, vice president of marketing for Perfetti Van Melle North America, will succeed Mehmet Yusek as president and CEO of the company, effective Aug. 17. Yuksek announced his resignation in July and was immediately replaced by interim CEO and CFO Fred King.
Buxton has more than three decades of experience in the CPG industry. She began her career in 1989 as a product manager with Reckitt & Coleman, a CPG company based in the United Kingdom. In 1991, she joined The Hershey Co. as a marketing manager, eventually holding other roles including global brand director for Brookside and senior director of Americas chocolate. Since joining Perfetti in January 2016, Buxton has led the marketing strategies for the Airheads and Mentos brands.
“It is a pleasure to appoint Sylvia Buxton, from within our own global pool of executive talent, as successor to Mehmet Yuksek,” said Sameer Suneja, global CEO of Perfetti Van Melle. “We are confident that, together with the leadership team in North America, she will continue to grow our business and strengthen our market position in North America.”
Lainate, Italy-based Perfetti Van Melle is a privately owned confectionery company that was established in March 2001 through the merger of Perfetti SpA and Van Melle Group B.V. The company manufactures and markets candy and chewing gum in more than 150 countries worldwide, including Mentos, Frisk, Chupa Chups, Smint, Fruittella, Alpenliebe, Golia, Vivident, Airheads, Happydent and Big Babol. Perfetti’s U.S. headquarters are in Erlanger, Ky.
Photo courtesy of Perfetti Van Melle.
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