Melis Kahya
About Melis Kahya
Melis Kahya serves as the Managing Director and Head of Consumer for EMEA at General Atlantic, focusing on investments in Turkey. She has an extensive background in consumer and retail sectors, having held various leadership roles at notable firms including TSG Consumer Partners and J.P. Morgan.
Work at General Atlantic
Melis Kahya currently serves as the Managing Director and Head of Consumer for EMEA at General Atlantic, a position she has held since 2021. In this role, she focuses on investments in the consumer sector across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Prior to her current position, she worked at General Atlantic as Head of Consumer for EMEA from 2016 to 2020 and as Vice President from 2015 to 2016. Her extensive experience in the consumer sector informs her strategic decisions and investment strategies within the firm.
Education and Expertise
Melis Kahya holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering and Economics from Yale University, where she studied from 2000 to 2004. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Stanford University Graduate School of Business, completing her studies from 2009 to 2011. Her academic background provides a strong foundation for her expertise in the consumer and retail sectors, which she has developed throughout her career.
Background
Before her tenure at General Atlantic, Melis Kahya gained significant experience in investment roles. She worked at J.P. Morgan as an Analyst in the Investment Banking division from 2004 to 2007, where she concentrated on the consumer and retail sectors. Following this, she joined TSG Consumer Partners, where she served as an Associate from 2007 to 2009 and later as Vice President from 2011 to 2015, focusing on investments in the retail and consumer sectors.
Board Memberships
Melis Kahya has held several board member positions in various companies. She has been a Board Member at Sézane since 2018, Gymshark since 2020, and JOE & THE JUICE since 2016. Additionally, she served as a Board Member at Depop from 2019 to 2021. These roles reflect her involvement in the consumer industry and her commitment to guiding companies in their strategic growth.