Pladis CEO Cem Karakas will step down from his executive role for family health reasons, effective immediately, the biscuit, chocolate and confectionery company announced Monday.
Karakas, who took the company’s helm when pladis was formed in 2016, will also take a leave of absence from his role as deputy chairman of parent company Yildiz Holding. He will be retained as an adviser to the United Biscuits UK Board.
Jim Zaza, pladis senior board member and chairman of United Biscuits UK, will step into the role of interim pladis CEO. Zaza has been an executive on the pladis board since its inception. He has previously held senior executive positions at Pepsico, Black and Decker and Eastman Kodak.
The board has begun a formal search and selection process to identify a new ceo.
