Dawn Food Products Inc., Jackson, MI, announced today that it has created a co-CEO leadership model. Joining current CEO Carrie Jones-Barber (top, right) as fellow CEO is Serhat Unsal (bottom, right), former president of Dawn Foods International. Each has equal responsibility and authority.

“As our business has become more complex and increasingly global, this model enables Dawn to be even more successful,” says Jones-Barber. “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.”

Together, Jones-Barber and Unsal have more than four decades of global leadership experience, building teams that deliver growth through innovation and exceptional service.

“Dawn is preparing to enter a new era of growth and success,” says 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.”

Since Jones-Barber became CEO 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. In addition, her past experience with Dawn includes a role as business development manager for Dawn Foods UK Ltd., where she helped secure business opportunities in the U.K. and Europe.

After achieving increasing responsibility and success as a leader during 18 years with Unilever, Unsal joined Dawn in early 2011. As president from 2011-2016, he 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.