Yonca Erdas Dervish
Leeds
Summary
Experienced leader with a PhD in Chemistry and over 22 years at Unilever, specialising in translating complex scientific concepts into effective product claims. Proven track record in product development and claims substantiation, managing multidisciplinary teams to achieve business objectives. Recognized for significant contributions to the UK and Ireland markets, prioritising consumer needs and creating compelling competitive claims. Adept at navigating challenging stakeholder relationships and regulatory hurdles to deliver innovative solutions for brand success.
Overview
9
9
years of post-secondary education
23
23
years of professional experience
Work history
UK and Ireland Customer Experience Director
Unilever UK
Kingston
2025.03 - Current
- Directing customer experience in UK and Ireland across Personal Care, Beauty and Wellbeing categories.
- Leading strategy and development, fostering culture of knowledge sharing and ensuring successful innovation implementation.
- Driving cross functional collaboration with Brand, Legal and Marketing teams.
- Supervising a team of six direct reports within a broader group of 40 individuals.
Personal Care Category Transformation Lead
Unilever UK
Leeds
2024.02 - 2025.03
- Built and deployed long-term strategy with global personal care leadership team.
- Worked with R&D to set future-fit portfolio and innovation excellence process.
- Created premiumisation strategy to strengthen competitiveness across global markets.
EU Deodorants Portfolio and Innovation Manager
Unilever UK
Leeds
2020.03 - 2024.02
- UK and Europe Innovation Lead for deodorants category (large, complex, science led portfolio), directing the innovation and savings agenda for on time in full delivery.
- Led cross-functional teams to deliver on innovative project goals.
- Led for innovation excellence, exemplary business continuity throughout the Covid pandemic through prioritisation, resource management, scenario modelling and tracking.
- Recommended interventions in portfolio management.
- Managed a team of 8 direct reports.
Quality and Innovation Lead
Unilever UK
Leeds
2014.11 - 2020.03
- Led Deodorants category quality agenda for aerosol and roll-on deodorant technologies.
- Responded consumer claims and led improvement activities.
- Supervised a team of four direct reports.
Deodorants Global R&D, Axe/Lynx Formulation Manager
Unilever UK
Leeds
2010.09 - 2014.11
- Spearheaded the global formulation department, taking charge of the transformation from discovery to design including scale up and technical aspects of innovation projects related to safety, regulatory compliance, claims substantiation and quality.
- Ensured claim integrity and compliance. Oversaw the validation of product efficacy and usage claimson communications including packaging and advertising, ensuring they are compliant with regulations.
- Led the most iconic Axe/Lynx brand best selling variants fragrance development worked closely with external fragrance houses and won the best fragrance creation award.
- Led diverse projects teams (scientist, engineers and analysts). Established creative environment to empower experimentation.
Competitors Intelligence Manager
Unilever UK
Leeds
2008.08 - 2010.09
- Initiated the creation of a new role designed to enhance the competitor intelligence strategy.
- Collaborated strongly with category patent attorney to improve awareness of competitor patent strategy.
- Challanged misleading competitor claims, prepared and led wargames.
Scientific Advisory for UK and Ireland
Unilever UK
Kingston Upon Thames
2006.07 - 2008.08
- Led all innovation and renovation safety, regulatory and technical clearance process including the advertisement clearance process for Deodorants, Oral Care and Hair Care categories.
- I won outstanding contribution to UK business award for securing superior, most competitive technical product claims on TV advertising through strong, compelling technical substantiation documents.
- I championed scientific credibility, acted as the technical representative for Sure, Dove, Lynx brands covering Deodorants, Skin Care and Skin Cleansing categories, acted as the central source of scientific expert and translated complex science into consumer winning claims and ensured communication with integrity and impact.
- I worked very closely with Brand, Legal, Regulatory and Corporate Affairsto uphold scientific credibility.
Senior Technical Specialist
Unilever UK
Port Sunlight
2003.09 - 2006.07
- Led scientific experiments to improve perfume longevity of household products.
- Collaborated closely with the Consumer Technical Insight team to optimize product testing protocols, ensuring successful product development.
- Communicated complex scientific concepts simply and fluently to variety of audiances.
- Received business recognition for bringing an 'Outside-In' perspective through strong external collaborations, thereby improving product development.
Education
PhD - Chemistry
University of Manchester
Manchester 2000.04 - 2004.10
Bachelor of Engineering - Chemical Engineering
Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul 1995.09 - 1999.09
Skills
- Strategic vision
- Product Development & Innovation
- Exceptional communication and influencing
- Driving Alignment Across Functions
- Inclusive and Inspiring Leadership
- Adaptability & Resilience
- Project Delivery
- Team Development
- Leadership
- Stakeholder management
- Technical expertise
- Strong analytical skills
Timeline
UK and Ireland Customer Experience Director
Unilever UK
2025.03 - Current
Personal Care Category Transformation Lead
Unilever UK
2024.02 - 2025.03
EU Deodorants Portfolio and Innovation Manager
Unilever UK
2020.03 - 2024.02
Quality and Innovation Lead
Unilever UK
2014.11 - 2020.03
Deodorants Global R&D, Axe/Lynx Formulation Manager
Unilever UK
2010.09 - 2014.11
Competitors Intelligence Manager
Unilever UK
2008.08 - 2010.09
Scientific Advisory for UK and Ireland
Unilever UK
2006.07 - 2008.08
Senior Technical Specialist
Unilever UK
2003.09 - 2006.07
PhD - Chemistry
University of Manchester
2000.04 - 2004.10
Bachelor of Engineering - Chemical Engineering
Istanbul Technical University
1995.09 - 1999.09