Mehmet Kemal Yilmazlar is the MEA Strategic Sourcing Manager for Logistics and Distributor Services at Mars Inc., a global manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products and provider of animal care services. Most recently, Kemal has led the creation and implementation of the company’s logistics strategy for Middle East and Africa region that aligns the business requirements and the supplier capabilities in the market after managing Packaging Materials, Raw Materials and Co-Packing categories throughout his 8 years tenure at Mars. Through a strategic approach to Supplier Relationship Management; Kemal is a true believer of suppliers’ involvement in company’s innovation pipeline and quality management.

Prior to joining Mars, Kemal has spent 5 years in Reckitt Benckiser, a global consumer goods company, managing various purchasing categories in Turkey. In that role, Kemal worked very closely with the suppliers to achieve company’s value creation targets year on year through numerous innovation projects.

Kemal has a B.S. Degree in Management Engineering from Istanbul Technical University.