Birsen Cevik Akgunlu

Board Member & Northern Europe HR Director Diageo

"A curious and progressive woman who believes in the power of solidarity and sisterhood" Passionate, courageous, determined and creative women have always inspired me. In order to increase the impact that women have created through their participation in the workforce, I have worked voluntarily in different projects and initiatives since university. And, I am one of the founding members of the Professional Women Network (PWN) İstanbul branch.

Career Story:

• "The Perfect Blend of People and Brands: Diageo" I currently lead the HR Agenda of Diageo Northern Europe. As the NE Leadership Team, we build on our legacy by creating a `Winning and Inclusive Culture` that inspires our people to be at their best. We operate in 11 countries in Northern Europe: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. In my previous role, I led ‘Mey|Diageo Transformation' together with the Diageo Turkey Leadership Team.
• "Sustainability and Human Capital at the Center: PepsiCo" I worked as Senior HR Director at PepsiCo Turkey and led the `Cultural and Organizational Integration` of the Snacks and Beverage businesses.
• "The Lure of FMCG: British American Tobacco (BAT)" I joined the FMCG industry during BAT`s market entry into Turkey and I had the opportunity to lead the growth of the organisation from 25 to 1,500 employees. Over the course of my 15 years at BAT, I gained valuable experiences such as the set up and development of 'the Direct Sales and Distribution Model’, change management of ‘Turkish Tobacco Monopoly (Tekel) Acquisition’ and my 1-year stint in Hungary.
• "Embarking on Career Journey" I studied Economics in one of the best universities in Turkey. I started my HR career at PwC and continued at Hewlett Packard.