Looking for a job

Utku Erdem

@utkuerdem

Message

Award-winning marketing expert with 20+ years of management experience.

United Arab Emirates

Message

What I'm looking for

I am looking for a dynamic role where I can leverage my extensive marketing experience to drive brand growth and innovation in a collaborative environment.

I am an award-winning marketing expert with over 20 years of management experience, specializing in the consumer goods industry across Turkey and the Middle East. My career has been marked by a consistent track record of growing top brands and leading diverse teams to achieve remarkable results. I have successfully launched numerous marketing campaigns and product activations, significantly increasing brand awareness and revenue for the companies I have worked with.

Throughout my career, I have held key positions at renowned companies such as Hasbro and Simba Dickie Group, where I led marketing strategies that resulted in substantial revenue growth and enhanced market presence. My ability to leverage data-driven insights and foster collaboration among cross-functional teams has been instrumental in executing successful marketing initiatives. I am passionate about driving brand success and continuously seek innovative ways to engage consumers and elevate brand experiences.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Marketing and Product Category Director

Current

Simba Dickie Group MENA

Jan 2024 - Present (1 year 9 months)

Responsible for the entire portfolio, including toys, gaming, and outdoor play, across the MENA region. Launched and led over 10 successful customer-specific activations and events, partnering with key accounts and guiding field teams for impactful in-store execution.

Marketing Event Management demand planning

Head of Marketing

Hasbro MENA

Jan 2017 - Dec 2023 (6 years 11 months)

Managed the company's entire portfolio in the MENA region, overseeing 360-degree marketing communication. Led local brand and trade marketing teams, and collaborated with regional and global teams on product development and strategic initiatives.

Marketing Management Brand Management Digital Marketing Product Development

Marketing Manager

Uludağ Beverage

Jan 2013 - Dec 2017 (4 years 11 months)

Oversaw the overall marketing management for the company, including global export markets, leading a team of 8 direct reports. Successfully launched 5 new categories and over 50 SKUs, steering cross-functional teams throughout the product development lifecycle.

Marketing Management Product Launch Data Driven Marketing Consumer Insights Event Management

Senior Brand Manager

Uludağ Beverage

Jan 2011 - Dec 2013 (2 years 11 months)

Managed the marketing for all company brands and products, leading a team of 5 direct reports. Orchestrated over 70 advertising campaigns, overseeing the complete spectrum of marketing communication from agency briefing to media strategy.

Brand Management Product Marketing Advertising Media Strategy Public Relations

Product Manager

Hasbro Turkey

Jan 2006 - Dec 2011 (5 years 11 months)

Responsible for the girls and boys toy categories, managing over 150 SKUs and 10+ brands. Elevated the Play-Doh brand to the top spot in the company's portfolio with a 157% growth in 3 years through targeted advertising campaigns.

Product Management Brand Management Campaigns Sales Growth Marketing Strategy

Junior Product Manager

Hasbro Turkey

Jan 2005 - Dec 2006 (1 year 11 months)

Managed the brand for preschool and interactive plush toy categories, supervising an Assistant Product Manager. Leveraged the Transformers Movie 2 hype with an extensive marketing campaign, tripling sales compared to Movie 1.

Brand Management Product Marketing Marketing Campaigns Sales Growth Team Supervision

Assistant Product Manager

Hasbro Turkey

Jan 2002 - Dec 2005 (3 years 11 months)

Managed the brand for preschool toy brands, reporting to the Group Product Manager. Executed targeted advertising campaigns on specialized platforms catering to mothers, yielding substantial return on investment.

Brand Management Advertising Marketing Campaigns ROI Analysis Product Marketing

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Boğaziçi (Bosphorus) University

Bachelor of Arts, Economics

1997 - 2002

Activities and societies: Singer and instrumentalist in the ethnic music band of the Folkloric Studies Club.

Studied Economics at Boğaziçi (Bosphorus) University, which was ranked as the #1 state university in Turkey in 1997. Achieved a high rank in the national university entrance exam, placing 321 among 1.4 million candidates.

Izmir Bornova Anatolian High School

High School Diploma, General Studies

1990 - 1997

Activities and societies: Actor in the Theater Club.

Attended Izmir Bornova Anatolian High School, recognized as one of the top 3 public secondary education schools in Turkey in 1990. Achieved a notable rank in the national high school entrance exam, placing in the top 500 among 1 million candidates.