CEO Insights Magazine

Comfort zones may offer stability, but leaders are shaped when they choose complexity.

From early responsibilities in finance to leading transformations across Europe and Asia, Aytekin Yıldız, CEO of North Asia Cluster, President of Bel Japon, has built his career by crossing borders, such as geographical, functional, and strategic.

Bel Group is a renowned global conglomerate that engages in the production of healthy, conveni­ent, and enjoyable, dairy snacks for people of all ages and across the globe. Some of the company’s iconic brands include Kiri, Boursin, Belcube, The Laughing Cow, and Babybel.

Today, based in Japan, Aytekin reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership, how he translates values into daily execution, and what he believes matters most for leaders navigating constant change.

Looking back on your journey from finance in Turkey to leadership roles across multiple markets,what were the key milestones that shaped you as a CEO?

I was born in Turkey and began my career in the field of finance. An early expatriation to France proved to be a defining experience, it opened my eyes to the world and significantly broadened my strategic perspective during 8 years there.

After returning home, I took on a broader CFO role, overseeing not only finance but also HR, IT, purchasing, and industrial controlling. Leading a major business turnaround during that period was a pivotal milestone for me, as it ultimately propelled me into country leadership.

Today, based in Japan, I lead transformations across different markets with a strong focus on strategic clarity and operational depth. I am deeply committed to people development and sustainable growth, with a clear ambition to build resilient organizations grounded in purpose, performance, and values.

Having led diverse teams across cultures and functions, how would you describe your leadership approach today? What principles guide you when leading teams through transformation?

My leadership style is situational, where I change the style depending on the situation and usually promote a collaborative and participative culture. I am concerned with the empowerment of my team members to realize their full potential in a strategic vision with great operational execution.

I also focus on creating a culture of performance that is based on resilience, agility, creativity, and continuous growth so that the team can successfully overcome the challenges and attain sustainable outcomes.

In food, operational excellence is often invisible when it works. How do you embed quality and food safety as a daily discipline across the value chain and within the organizational culture?

The end-to-end quality control systems implemented by our group from sourcing to final delivery of food items to maintain high quality and safety over lengthy periods of time with the help of structured processes, high compliance standards, and powerful traceability systems.

When it comes to staying highly disciplined in operation, we invest heavily in training employees and maintaining vigilance. Incorporating food safety as an indispensable priority in the organization culture, we have continuously satisfied strict market regulations and consumer satisfaction in various geographies.

In a fast-changing industry shaped by technology, AI, and evolving consumer expectations, how do you stay close to emerging trends and translate them into strategic choices?

To stay up to date with evolving industry trends, I actively invest in continuous learning through extensive reading, industry reports, and podcasts from diverse global sources. I closely follow developments in technology, particularly AI, and changing consumer and market dynamics.

Additionally, I prioritize meaningful networking and face-to-face interactions with industry leaders across sectors, as these exchanges provide practical insights, shared challenges, and innovative perspectives that help me strategically steer the organization toward the future.

What is the mission you are most focused on today in your current role, and what kind of leadership challenge do you aspire to take on next?

We are purpose-driven healthy snacking company and we would like to help and support sustainable food ecosystem. To execute this mission, my immediate goal is to successfully achieve a sustainable and innovation-driven growth model within my cluster through breakthrough ideas and impactful execution.

Looking ahead, I aspire to take on a new leadership challenge in a different geography, leveraging my experience across multiple markets to build a new success story and create meaningful impact for the both market and my teams.

For emerging leaders navigating uncertainty and global complexity, what is the one mindset you believe matters most and why?

Remain curious and adaptable in an ever-changing business environment. Curiosity drives continuous learning, helping you stay informed about global trends, markets, and emerging challenges. Adaptability enables you to respond effectively to rapid economic and technological shifts.

Most importantly, lead with strong personal and organizational values. When your decisions are guided by clear principles and purpose, you build trust, resilience, and long-term success as a leader.

Aytekin Yildiz, CEO of North Asia Cluster, President of Bel Japon

Aytekin is a globally seasoned and transformation-driven leader who blends financial expertise with multicultural agility, steering complex markets across Europe and Asia into resilient, purpose-led growth platforms defined by strategic clarity, operational excellence, and sustainable value creation.

Hobbies: I love traveling, having explored over 40 countries and more than 100 cities worldwide, and enjoy cooking, which I find both relaxing and culturally enriching.

Favorite Travel Destination: Italy, as I love its rich history, incredible food, vibrant culture, and the warmth and friendliness of its people across every city I’ve visited.

Favorite Cuisine: Turkish, though I also enjoy French and Japanese food from having lived in both countries.

Favorite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, as its message about following one’s dreams deeply influenced me.

Awards & Recognition:

• Received the CEO Turnaround Award at Group Bel in Turkey for successful business transformation.

• Awarded Company of the Year 2024 by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan.