Ali Y. Koç

Ali Y. Koç

Koç Holding, Vice President of the Board

Mr. Ali Y. Koç capped his undergraduate studies at the Management Faculty of Rice University (USA) with an MBA from Harvard Business School. He started his career at American Express Bank as a Management Trainee and continued as an Investment Analyst at Morgan Stanley Investment Bank. Mr. Ali Y. Koç joined Koç Holding in 1997 and held senior-level positions until 2010 including new business development and information technologies. He was the President of Corporate Communications and IT Group. He has been serving as a Board Member at Koç Holding since 2008 and was elected as Vice Chairman in February 2016. Ali Y. Koç has been serving on the Board of Directors at Ford Otosan since 1997 and was elected as Chairman on 10 December 2012. Currently, Ali Y. Koç is the Chairman of Ark İnşaat, Bilkom, Digital Panorama, Koç Information and Defence Technologies, Koç Financial Services, Koç Sistem, Koçtaş, Otokar, Otokoç, Setur and Yapı Kredi Bank. Ali Y. Koç also contributes to the country’s social and economic development at URAK – National Competition Research Association as President, 1907 Fenerbahçe Association as Chairman, Endeavor Association and DEİK, Foreign Economic Relations Board as Board Member. He is also the Vice Chairman of TÜSİAD – Turkish Industry and Business Association and member of the Global Advisory Council of Bank of America, Harvard University and CFR.

Pelin Akın Özalp

Pelin Akın Özalp

Akfen Holding, Board Member

After graduating from Surrey University, England, Spanish Business Administration Department in 2010, Pelin Akın Özalp started her career in the Strategy department within the Finance department of Deutsche Bank’s Madrid office. Following her return to Turkey, she was accepted to the MT program of TAV Airports Holdings, to be trained as a future executive.

Currently Pelin Akın ÖZALP serves as a Member of the Corporate Governance Committee and Member of the Board at Akfen Holding and TAV Airports Holding Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, Pelin Akın ÖZALP also serves as a Board Member of Akfen REIT and IBS Insurance and Reinsurance Brokerage.

Pelin Akın Özalp, takes place in different groups of both Spanish Business Council and British Business Council of DEIK. She is also an active member of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors at TİKAV (Turkish Human Resources Education and Health Foundation) founded in Hamdi Akın’s leadership in 1999. Pelin Akın Özalp is Vice President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award-Türkiye National Committee whose main sponsor is Akfen Holding. She is also Chairwoman at the Advisory Board of the Contemporary Turkish Studies Chair founded in London School of Economics since 2010. Pelin Akın Özalp had been organsing until 2017 the ‘Tatlıdil Forum’ that was founded in 2011 in order to strengthen political, economic and cultural relations between Turkey and the U.K for the last two years. She is also a member of the Turkish Businesswomen Association (TIKAD), Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TURKONFED), Public Policy and Democracy Studies (PODEM), Family Business Association (TAİDER) and TOBB Young Entreprenuers Advisory Board Member. In 2015, Pelin Akın Özalp was chosen to be an Associate Member for TÜSİAD’s Board for 2 years as being the youngest member. 

Tal GARİH

Born in 1985, Tal Garih studied a double major in International Relations and Psychology at the University of Virginia where he graduated from in 2007. In 2010, he completed his graduate studies with honors at New York University, mastering a joint degree in International Business and Politics.

Tal has been working in various roles within the Alarko Group of Companies since 2010. Currently, he is the Strategic Planning Manager at Alarko Holding. In addition, he serves as the Chairman of the Board and faculty member of Bahçeşehir University’s Graduate School of Business, and as a Board Member of “Yeni Bir Lider Derneği / A New Leader Association”.

 Starting his career, Tal worked as a consultant in Brussels and Washington, representing the interests of Turkish companies in their efforts to harmonize practices and expand towards Europe and the US.

 After his return to Turkey, Tal joined Alarko and worked as a Marketing Analysis and Operations Supervisor at its Tourism Group, Hillside, between 2010 - 2012. He was in charge of directing brand management, pricing, campaigns, customer satisfaction and communications activities.

 In 2013, Tal rotated to the Energy Group, where Alarko shows a strong growth commitment, and served as the Energy Business Development Manager. His focus was mainly on renewable energy, operation management, feasibility assessments, forward power trading and corporate relations.

 In addition to his role in Alarko, Tal is also active in the social responsibility domain. Serving as the Chairman of the Board and faculty member of Bahçeşehir University’s Graduate School of Business, Tal teaches global strategic management courses in the university’s MBA programs. He aims to upgrade the graduate school’s standards and procedures through the incorporation of best practices regarding the management of the Business School.

 Furthermore, Tal is a Board Member of “Yeni Bir Lider Derneği / A New Leader Association” since 2013. Working together with Turkey’s leading companies, NGO’s and governmental institutions, the organization gears towards crafting the next-generation of Leaders in Turkey. Its mission is to continuously identify and develop talented and motivated young Turkish individuals with tailored growth opportunities.

 Tal’s areas of interest include novel technologies, geo-politics, renewable energy, economic globalization, managerial psychology and eastern philosophies. Furthermore, Tal is an animal lover and Yoga and Kung Fu are among his hobbies. He speaks fluently English, Turkish and Hebrew.

Osman Geylan

Osman Geylan

Gilan, Vice President of the Board

Osman Geylan was born in 1986.  After completion of primary, secondary and high school education in Istanbul, he completed his university education in America. He graduated from the Finance and Business Department of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. Geylan, who was the first child of the family, started his working life at an early age. He has worked in many areas of high jewellery such as production, marketing and precious stone supply. Osman Geylan, second generation representative of the Geylan family, whom the American Elite Traveler magazine defined as Leaders in Luxury, continues to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of Gilan Jewellery. Aside from his passion for jewellery, Geylan has an interest in automobile sports since early ages, and mostly spends his time outside of work with this area of ​​interest.
 
Living in Istanbul, a large part of Osman Geylans life is spent searching for precious stones in various parts of the world as his work requires.

Kazım Köseoğlu

Kazım Köseoğlu

Esas Gayrimenkul, Board Member

Kazım Köseoğlu was born in 1983 London, UK.

He is graduated from Austria High School, İstanbul. After completing his undergraduate studies in Business Economics (German) in Brown University of the United States in 2007, Köseoğlu received his master’s degree of International Finance and Banking from City University of London Cass Business School, in 2008.

After working in one of UK's largest real estate companies F&C Reit Asset Management as an investment analyst in real estate fund for three years.
 
Köseoğlu is the CEO of Esas Properties, since 2010.

Çetin Yılmaz

Çetin Yılmaz, Basketball Coach

Cetin Yilmaz, born in Ankara in 1956 is married and the father of one.

He attended middle school and high school in Karabuk and Ankara where he was was educated in English. In 1980 he completed his major in sociology at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara.
Cetin Yilmaz was the technical trainer for Anadolu Efes Basketball Team betwen 2010 and 2014. Prior to this, he was the coach for Ulker (7 seasons), Fenerbahce (5 seasons), Cukurova (5 seasons), METU (8 seasons) all of which are the leading basketball teams in Turkey. He also trained Tuborg, Beykoz and BJK basketball teams.
In addition to the teams above, Cetin Yilmaz also was the main coach for the Turkish National Basketball Team and the Turkish National Future (youth) Basketball Team.

“Being a coach for a basketball team may seem like it’s different but actually it is quite close to all levels of the business world. It’s like managing a bank, a hospital or a company. Parameters in professional life can be found in coaching for a team: management, expertise, leadership, team work and the work discipline.”

MAJOR LEAGUE BASKETBALL TEAMS
Coached for:
• Fenerbahce, first major league championship
• Fenerbahce, Presidential Cup winner
• Fenerbahce, 3-time winner of the major league
• Ulker, 2-time champion in major league
• Ulker, Presidential Cup winner
• Ulker, European Cup 2-time quarter finals player
• Cukurova, 2nd place in the major league championship
• METU, winner of the Universities Championship

NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM
Coached for:
• National team as the finalist for the first time ever in the European Championship
• National team in many different World and European Championships

Cetin Yilmaz also takes part in seminars and conferences designed by businesses about Team and Team Work, Leadership, Productivity, Personal Development and Motivation as a Speaker.
He worked with people at Turkcell, Global Bilgi, Akcansa, Sanovel, Akcavis, Sandoz, Pfizer, Roche, Unilever, McDonalds, Anadolu Group, Group SEB, Volvo, Nissan, Mercedes Benz, Siemens, Zoetis, Koc Holding, IBM, Intel, Remax, Cargill, Hedef Filo, Schneider Electric and Alexion Pharmaceuticals.
He works as a management consultant, trainer for the basketball trainers and as a board member of the Turkish Basketball Coaches Association. He had worked for Lig TV and SKY Turk as a commentator and he also wrote on sports page at Hurriyet newspaper.

Murat Özcan

Born in 1982, Murat Özcan graduated from Ted Ankara College and completed his B.S. in Computer Engineering at Yeditepe University. He granted his M.S. degree from University of Navarra, Spain in Economics and Finance. His career commenced at Ravago Holding in London. He joined his family business, Canpa Holding in 2007 as Business Development Manager. In 2009 he acted as Managing Director of groups sister company, Stoper Production Facilities. Finally he leaded the Regnum Sky Tower project in the construction division. He is currently Ankara Representative of TAİDER and Secretary General of TÜGİAD.

Gianandrea Seguso

GianAndrea Seguso Bellotto

Seguso, Sales and Business Development Manager

Growing up in Venice, surrounded by the beauty and hence the glass art that is part of his family DNA, was instrumental in the formation of GianAndrea, the youngest of the three Seguso brothers and the 23rd generation of the Seguso dynasty.

Seguso is among the oldest family traditions in the world and since 1397 has shaped the most refined Murano glass in Venice, creating unique works of art. An extroverted personality and curious, since his university years GianAndrea has felt the need to cultivate diversified interests: studying art history and psychology, theater, exploring the themes of interpersonal communication. This did not prevent him from devoting himself to the family business with enthusiasm. In 2000 he worked with his brother, Gianluca, in the commercial development of the fledgling Seguso USA, taking care of the organization of events and following a few top clients in Europe and America.

His sensitivity and the call of art, however, pushed him to follow an independent path to realize a long time dream of his to open an independent art gallery to launch young glass artists. From this important collaborations were born, such as a meeting with Philippe Starck for the construction of a boutique hotel in Venice, and projects for noted private collectors. His return to the family business takes place after completing further experiences: first alongside a historical brand of the classic interior design world in the development of important projects and private residences, then subsequently engaged in the business development of an ambitious design project for an Italian company, whose standout product designs are by, Gio Ponti, Achille Castiglioni, Lo Mazzi Durbino, Franco Poli, Harri Koskinen. Today, GianAndrea, thanks to his rich and multi‐faceted experience, has resumed his place alongside to brothers, Gianluca and Pierpaolo. He follows the commercial development of new markets and special projects that see Seguso Vetri d’Arte glass as a star in the world.

Art and beauty continue to be at the center of his personality and of his essence.

Fahir Gök

Fahir Gök

Fersa Aydınlatma, President of the Board

High School, FMV Işık Lisesi, IITIA Faculty of Business Administiration, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Fersa Lighting 1978, Founder ISO; Istanbul Chamber of Industry, 1998-2017, past Committe president, past Executive  Board member, currently Lighting Committe and  Assembly member, AGİ; Lighting Manufacturers Association,founder and President LE;  Lighting Europe Association, founder, auditor and member.

Neslihan Tombul

NESLİHAN TOMBUL

Cambridge Advisors to Family Enterprise, Senior Advisor and Associate Partner

Neslihan Tombul is senior marketing executive with over 30 years of international banking and management experience. She began her finance career in 1983 at the Irving Trust Company (now BNY Mellon) where she held senior management positions in New York and Istanbul. Having worked throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, she is regional specialist in credit marketing, risk management and new business development.

In 2009, she took initiative to establish a VC fund to support technology enabled startups in Turkey. She then transitioned into the corporate sector where she has served as an independent board member at Yasar Holding, a leading industrial conglomerate in Turkey and Prysmian Kablo, a subsidiary of the Prysmian Group, the world’s leading industrial cable manufacturer headquartered in Italy, TURCAS, a diversified energy investment company and now at ANEL Elektrik, an international electro-mechanical contracting company. In her capacity as a board member, Ms Tombul has had responsibility for Finance, New Business Development, Marketing, Corporate Governance, Investor Relations and HR. Stretching outside the Middle East, Ms Tombul is also a Specialist Advisor to NZTE, the economic development agency of the New Zealand government. 

Ms Tombul has worked with business families and holding companies in Turkey and the Middle East throughout her career. Since 2014, she is a Senior  Advisor and Associate Partner at Cambridge Family Enterprise Group, a leading international advisory firm founded by Prof John Davis, on issues related to growth strategy, long-term continuity, governance and next generation integration. She was also Family Facilitator at Harvard Business School’s executive education program, Families in Business: From Generation to Generation, which examines pivotal issues facing family firms.

Committed to building a strong civil society, Neslihan is also an active member of ARIT (American Research Institute in Turkey) and YPO-WPO (Europe One Chapter). She is a Trustee of TGEV, a foundation which promotes education in Turkey’s distressed regions, and she is a founder of the American Business Forum in Turkey. Working with the EBRD, she supports and mentors women entrepreneurs to help grow and professionalize their businesses.

Neslihan holds a B.A. Degree in Economics and Political Science from Rutgers University and an M.A. Degree in International Relations and Economic Development from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She is fluent in English, Turkish, Azerbaijani and French and beginner in Farsi. Her hobbies include jazz singing, equestrian sports and gastronomy.

Leyla Alaton

Leyla Alaton

Alarko Holding, Board Member

Born in Istanbul. Single Mother of two boys. Notre Dame de Sion French High School, 1980 Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey, U.S.A., 1984 B.A. New York University in New York, U.S.A. 1986. MA in social studies. Since 2008 Board Member of Alarko Group of Companies.

Since 2010 Board Member and Partner of Alvimedica Medical Technologies. Honored with the ‘’Légion d’Honneur’’ by the French Government, for contribution to the Turco - French cultural and social relations.

Accomplishments and Activities:

1993 was chosen as GLT ‘Global Leaders for Tomorrow’ in Davos World Economic Forum.1992 was chosen as the ‘Business Woman of the Year’ by the National Productivity Center of Turkey. New Museum, New York Leadership Council Member Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, European Jury Member, (Womens Form) KAGIDER’ Women Entrepreneurs Association, Founding Member. GYIAD (Young Businessmen Association), Founding Member Make a Wish’ Turkey, Founding Member. Contemporary Art Istanbul – Advisory Board Member. Art International Istanbul - Advisory Board Member Akbank  Sanat  – Advisory Board Member. WPO (World Presidents’ Organization)  Member GRF (Global Relations Forum) Member Darüşşafaka Society -  Advisory Board Member Women Corporate Directors Turkey Chapter Chair. Turkey Vodafone Foundation - Advisory Board Member Social entrepreneur-  activist. Contemporary Art  collector.

Leyla Alaton is a popular spokesperson in the areas of Women in Business and Women Empowerment. She often gives talks in universities about entrepreneurship and women economic independence. She is a role model and an inspirer for young women to have their career and be involved in NGO's. She is a popular TV figure on entrepreneurship and women issues.

The "2016 Special Honorary Award" of the Registered Markets Association (TMD) was presented for the Successful and Entrepreneurial Women's Identity in the business world.

Özge Toraman

Özge Toraman

ActionCOACH Turkey Master Licence Franchise/Partner at ActionCOACH

Özge Toraman graduated from Kadıköy Anadolu High School and then she had her bachelor degree from Boğaziçi University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Political Sciences and International Relations.

She has started her banking career at Inter Bank as the Management Trainee and continued in different national and foreign capital banks in Turkey such as Fortis Bank, Deutsche Bank, Akbank, Bank-Assurance as the Branch Manager, Regional Manager, Director of Banc-assurance, Sales Director, Chief of the Department.

Fortis Bank, Deutsche Bank, Akbank, Bank-Assurance

She completed the Dale Carnegie Manager Coaching and Leadership Certification and she worked as a trainer in different companies and organizations. She is the shareholder and managerial coach in ActionCOACH, which is the leading Business Coaching Company of the world

With the strong belief in change, sustainable development and power of life-time learning, she shares her knowledge and experience with entrepreneurs, managers and business owners on their journey towards their vision and goals and she guides them as a Business and Executive Coach

Accomplishments:

She has been selected as the first 50 leader candidates from the 55.000 employees of Fortis Bank and she also completed the Fortis Next Generation Leadership Programme.ICF approved Master Certified Coach (MCC), ACC level

Atıl Pekşen

Atıl Pekşen

Levent Kimya A.Ş., President of the Board

Atil Peksen, born in Antalya in 1973, graduated from Chemistry and Business Management Departments of East Mediterranean University in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus , after completing her primary, secondary and high school education in Antalya.

He has been employed in various business units of Levent Kimya Sa. Tic. A.S in Turkey inland and abroad, which is a family company since 1997.

In 2010, he took the duty of Chairman of the Board of Directors over on his father Güngör Peksen's death and is still continueing this duty.

With his entrepreneurial and innovative world view, he continues being active in the membership of civil society organizations such as ANSIAD, DOSIAD, OSIAD, TAIDER, TEAMDER, TKYD and shares his experiences and knowledge in the platforms he is invited as speaker.

Atil Peksen, who regularly does sports, is interested in music as an amateur and speaks English and Russian.

He is married and has 3 children.

Sabri Berkan Baykam

Ayşe Öztuna Bozoklar

Ayşe Öztuna Bozoklar

Odgers Berndtson Turkey, Managing Partner

Born in 1969 in London, Mrs. Ayşe Eren Öztuna Bozoklar is married to Ali Tamer Bozoklar. Ayşe Eren Öztuna Bozoklar graduated from Nişantaşı Anatolian High School in 1987 and in 1991 – when still an alumni at sociology department of Boğaziçi University, she founded her first business consultancy assessment services in the area of human resources. Currently, she serves as the Founding Partner of Profil International Human Resources Consulting and Managing Partner of Istanbul Office of Odgers Berndtson, which is one of the leading executive search and leadership assessment companies in Europe. Ayşe Eren Öztuna Bozoklar, who is one of the first management consultants in Turkey to use psychometric tools in executive search and assessment processes, additionally served between 2003 and 2005 as a lecturer on career management and leadership development subjects at the MBA program of Istanbul Bilgi University. In 2005, she was selected as the most successful businesswoman of her sector by the daily economy newspaper ‘Dünya’. Besides offering consultancy and assessment services in the areas of board-structuring of various highly-reputable organisations along with appointment of CEOs and top executives, she also leads bringing the top executives of Turkey’s foremost companies together in joint wisdom platforms. Ayşe Eren Öztuna Bozoklar speaks fluent English.
Mrs. Bozoklar is currently serves as Board Member on Corporate Governance Association of Turkey and as the honorary consulate of Antigua and Barbuda.

Dr. Nilsen Altıntaş

Phd. Nilsen ALTINTAŞ

TEB Group Head of HR and Innovation

Nilsen Altıntaş is a Manager breaking grounds and her innovative achievements become benchmark for many corporations. The Innovation Management  she has built, involving all stakeholders of Innovation with HR leadership and coordination, is shown as a best practice not only in Turkey but also in many International Platforms.

Intrapreneurship is also one of the Innovative Practices she has executed recently.

Nilsen Altıntaş has been  working  at  Turkish Economy Bank – Joint venture of BNP Paribas as Assistant General Manager responsible from Human Resources and Innovation since 2005.

Mrs. Altıntaş is the founder of Innovative HR, consulting on management and human resources between the years 2002 and 2005.    

She worked as Coordinator in charge of Human Resources, Corporate Communications and Innovation  in Eczacıbaşı Holding Co. between the years 1995 and 2002.

She worked as  Human Resources Coordinator from 1989 to 1995 and Investments  and Economic Research Manager from 1987 to 1989 in STFA Group.

Between 1977 and 1987 she worked in The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey as Research Specialist and as Senior Research Specialist.

Nilsen Altıntaş has been graduated from Boğaziçi University in 1979 , her degree is on Chemical Engineering, and she also had her Masters degree from Chemical Engineering. She has a Ph.D. degree from İstanbul Teknik University and Copenhagen University and become Assistant Proffessor in 1987.

Nilsen Altıntaş is married with two children.

Ayşegül Akşak

Ayşegül Akşak

ActionCOACH Turkey Master Licence Franchise / Partner at ActionCOACH

Ayşegül Akşak graduated from Middle East Technical University Department of Economics. She participated in meetings of International Congress and Convention Association.

She was just 21 years old when she founded her own company, a Travel Agency.

After her graduation, she worked in the marketing department at Akbank Personal Banking. In Akbank Personal Banking, she experienced almost all different aspects in Product Developing and Marketing, such as analyzing the customer need, product development, system building, branding, marketing communications, goal setting, customer satisfaction of the campaign, so that she gained experience in all areas of Product Development and Marketing.

After her career at Deutsche Bank and HSBC for 2 years each, she turned to COACHING path.

Today, along with her two partners, in the World’s No.1 business and executive coaching firm, ActionCOACH, she works as Turkey Representative for Business and Executive Coaching. Restructuring of enterprises and helping them achieve their dreams of accompanying them in their growth, their lives and also pleased to contribute to continuous learning.

Burak Ünaldı