Hamdi Ulukaya named Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013

 By EntrepreneurIndia, 11-06-2013

Hamdi was picked from among the 49 country finalists vying for the title across 47 countries

 Hamdi Ulukaya, the Founder, President and CEO of Chobani, based in the United States, was named the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013 at an awards ceremony held in Monte Carlo’s Salle des Etoiles on June 9. Hamdi was picked from among the 49 country finalists vying for the title across 47 countries, each of whom had already been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in their home countries. 

Turkish-born Hamdi Ulukaya founded Chobani in upstate New York in 2005 and launched Chobani Greek Yogurt two years later. Less than six years after launch it is the best-selling yogurt brand in the US with annual sales approaching $1 billion. Chobani has 3,000 employees and operates the largest yogurt factory in the world selling its products to Australia and the UK as well as the US.

Rodrigo Herrera, CEO and Chairman of Genomma Lab Internacional and Chairman of the judging panel said, “Hamdi personifies the entrepreneurial spirit and is a real role model for any aspiring entrepreneur. The judges were impressed by his courage and perseverance.”

Hamdi Ulukaya said, “I’m delighted and honored to receive this award and I would like to dedicate this to our fans, employees, local communities and health professional friends. Without them, none of our successes would have been possible.”

“Hamdi has rightly been called the personification of every immigrant’s American dream,” said Maria Pinelli, Ernst & Young’s Global Vice Chair for Strategic Growth Markets. “He has achieved fantastic success in a relatively short space of time,” he added.

Jim Turley, Global Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, said, “Over the past 26 years, entrepreneurs have done more than any other group to stimulate innovation, job creation and prosperity during both periods of growth and in more challenging economic conditions. Hamdi epitomizes the vision and determination that set entrepreneurs apart and is very worthy of the title Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013.”

Mark Weinberger, Global Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young said, “Although Hamdi is truly an inspiring World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2013, the 49 women and men whom we honored tonight and the thousands of entrepreneurs who enter this program every year are all winners. Now more than ever, we must acknowledge, celebrate and learn from these remarkable people.”