Gozen names Sedef Uncu Aki as CEO

Gozen, the force behind the innovative biomaterial Lunaform, has announced a strategic restructuring of its leadership team as it embarks on its next phase of commercial expansion.

As a part of the restructuring, founder and former CEO Ece Gözen will now assume the role of chief innovation officer and creative director and Dr. Sedef Uncu Aki, who previously served as Gozen’s chief product officer, will now assume the CEO role.

According to the company's announcement on May 15, this leadership transition comes on the heels of Lunaform’s adoption by prominent brand partners such as Balenciaga and Beymen Collection, supporting the ongoing rollout of the advanced biomaterial.

Ece Gözen, who established Gozen in 2022 by merging her design ethos with biotechnology, pioneered Lunaform, a material inspired by natural generative processes and celebrated for its "strength, drape and biophilic texture." Under her leadership, the company launched Lunaform's inaugural commercial range, secured key partnerships with leading luxury brands, and inaugurated a 40,000 sq. ft. production facility in Istanbul.

Reflecting on the change, Ece Gözen stated, “Sedef is a true expert in scaling material innovation and the perfect leader to oversee our next phase of growth. I’m thrilled to have her step up as CEO. We’ll continue working closely together, while Sedef's overall leadership of the business will allow me to dive even deeper into the creative potential of Lunaform, both in the lab and with our brand partners.”

Dr. Sedef Uncu Aki, who joined Gozen in January 2024 as chief product officer, brings to her new role as CEO a 25-year track record in operations, commercial strategy, and business growth, complemented by a PhD in Textile Technology & Management. With experience managing over $100 million in P&L for textile enterprises, Dr. Uncu Aki will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of Lunaform across mass, premium, and luxury product segments.

Co-founder and COO Pelin Gözen will maintain her leadership over Gozen’s product roadmap and operational excellence.