Aujan Industries Co is the largest privately owned beverage and confectionery company in the GCC, competing with global heavyweights such as Pepsi and Coca Cola.

Company president since December last year, Gunduz's background in the beverage industry spans nearly a quarter of a century, when his career began in his native Turkey. He has developed considerable experience working in emerging markets and has worked in Russia and Tanzania and for Coca Cola's South African franchisee.

"As Aujan enters a new and exciting phase of its development, we are fortunate to have Kadir Gunduz's experience and proven track record to lead an already successful and exceptional team," the drinks giant's chairman Adel Aujan said upon Gunduz's appointment.

In 2008, Aujan achieved its target to deliver $500m in revenue twelve months ahead of its five-year plan and Gunduz has now set a new ambitious target of $1bn by 2012. He plans to achieve this by opening two new production plants and by expanding the company's brands, which include Rani, Vimto and Barbican, into emerging markets such as Iraq, India and Egypt.