Early Life
Murat Ülker was born on March 21, 1959, in Istanbul, Turkey. He attended İstanbul Erkek Lisesi and later earned a degree in business administration from Boğaziçi University. To further his education, he studied at the American Institute of Baking (AIB) and Zentralfachschule der Deutschen Süßwarenwirtschaft (ZDS). He also gained experience through an internship at Continental Baking Company in the United States. His family has Crimean Tatar roots, migrating to Turkey in 1929.
Rise to Success
Ülker joined the Ülker Group in 1984 as a control coordinator, quickly advancing to assistant general manager and later general manager. In 2000, he became the CEO of Yıldız Holding and, in 2008, assumed the role of chairman. Under his leadership, Yıldız Holding expanded through strategic acquisitions, including Godiva Chocolatier in 2008 and United Biscuits in 2014. In 2016, he spearheaded the creation of pladis, a global business consolidating Ülker, United Biscuits, and DeMet's Candy Company.
Key Business Strategies
Key business strategies included international expansion through acquisitions, particularly in the biscuit and confectionery sectors. He focused on creating a global structure and expanding the company's reach. He also oversaw the sale of parts of Godiva's Asia-Pacific business to MBK Partners. Ulker has also invested in technology and innovation, launching over 250 new products over five years.
Philanthropy
Ülker established the Sabri Ulker Foundation in 2009 to support public health initiatives in food and nutrition. In 2014, the Ulker family donated $24 million to Harvard University.