Prof. Ahmet Bolat

Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee

Born in Konya in 1959, Prof. Ahmet Bolat graduated from Istanbul Technical University in 1981 as an Industrial Engineer. In 1984, he graduated from M.Sc. Operations Research program at Stanford University and in 1988, he obtained his Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Prof. Bolat started his career in 1981 as a Design and Production Engineer at Yıldız Kalıp Şirketi. Between 1985 and 1988, he held a various of roles at the University of Michigan including as teaching assistant, research assistant and assistant professor. From 1988 to 2005, he worked as assistant professor, associate professor and professor at Industrial Engineering Department of King Saud University, Riyadh.

He was assigned as Senior Vice President of Investment Management at Turkish Airlines Inc. in 2005 and served as Chief Investment and Technology Officer between 2012 and 2022. During his tenure, he managed strategic growth plan of Turkish Airlines and led the team which procured around 550 aircraft to Turkish Airlines fleet. Being also responsible for International Relations & Alliances, Prof. Bolat has managed Government Affairs issues & commercial agreements with airline partners, ensuring partnership & network development with enhanced bilateral relations. He also led the feasibility study of Alliance selection project for Turkish Airlines.

In 2022, Prof. Ahmet Bolat was appointed as the Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines.

Prof. Mecit Eş

Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee

Prof. Mecit Eş was born in Samsun in 1953 and received his undergraduate degree from Istanbul University, School of Economics in 1974. After working in the public sector, he continued his academic career and received his Ph.D. in 1985. Dr. Mecit Eş became Associate Professor in 1990 and Professor in 1996. Having worked in the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Dumlupınar University in the field of Public Finance between 1992 and 2012, Dr. Eş has since been Professor of the Academy of Commercial Sciences at Istanbul Commerce University. During his career, he has published many books and articles. Dr. Eş is a father of three children.

Bilal Ekşi

Member of the Board of Directors / CEO

Bilal Ekşi graduated from Yıldız Technical University, the Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering in 1989. Starting his career in 1989, Mr. Ekşi worked as an Electronics and Communications Engineer at Turkish State Railways and thereafter, he was assigned to the position of Workshop Manager at Istanbul Ulasim A.S., and he played an active role in realization of significant transport projects. 

As the Head of Overhaul Workshops at Turkish Airlines Inc., Mr. Ekşi carried out the duty of maintenance of aircraft engines, landing gears and all components between 2003 and 2005. In 2005, he has been assigned as the Chief Ground Operations Officer at Turkish Airlines Inc. Mr. EKŞİ accomplished significant projects, particularly in improvement of the on-time departure performance during his tenure.

Having served as the Chief Production Officer at Turkish Technic in 2008 and 2009; and as the General Manager of Cyprus Turkish Airlines as part of the reorganization of Cyprus Turkish Airlines in 2010; and as the Executive Vice President at "Turkish Engine Center (TEC)", established by the Joint Venture of Pratt Whitney, the American Engine manufacturer, and Turkish Technic Inc. between 2010 – 2011; Mr. Ekşi was assigned as the Director General of Civil Aviation in April 2011. During his tenure as the Director General of Civil Aviation, Turkey has been reelected as a member of Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 66 years later its pervious membership and has become one of the 36 members in ICAO’s decision-making platform.

On 21st of October, 2016, he was assigned as the CEO and continues his duty as the CEO and Member of the Board.

Assoc. Prof. Murat Şeker

Member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee / Chief Financial Officer

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Şeker, PhD earned his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Marmara University in 2000, followed by a Master's Degree in Economics from Sabancı University in 2002. Then, he earned a PhD in Economics from University of Minnesota, USA in 2008.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şeker worked as an analyst at Global Indicators Analysis Department between 2008 - 2011 and as an economist at Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship department between 2011 - 2013 under the Financial and Private Sector Development Vice Presidency of World Bank, USA. During his tenure at the World Bank, he was responsible for operational project management; production of reports and research publications on innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, international trade; and development of economic policies that contribute to the growth of developing countries.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şeker returned to Turkey in 2013 and worked at Ziraat Bank as Senior Vice President of Investor Relations Department. In August 2014, he was assigned as Senior Vice President of Financial Institutions and Investor Relations Department. At Ziraat Bank, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şeker also served as Board Members of Ziraat Investment, Ziraat Private Pension and Ziraat Insurance subsidiaries. In July 2016, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şeker was assigned as the Chief Financial Officer of Turkish Airlines and in March 2021, he was additionally appointed as a Member of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şeker also serves as a Board Member of SunExpress.

Between 2015 and 2018, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şeker lectured as part-time professor at Boğaziçi University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and received Associate Professorship title in October 2018.

Mehmet Kadaifçiler

Member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee / Chief Flight Operations Officer

Mehmet Kadaifçiler, who was born in Konya in 1963, completed his undergraduate education in the Turkish Air Force Academy, Department of Aircraft, and graduated in 1986.

Between 1986 and 2000, he served as a jet pilot and an instructor pilot in various units of the Turkish Air Force.

He completed his master's degree at the Air War College between 2000 and 2002. As a Staff Officer, he retired in 2005 after serving as a Squadron Commander and working in the Turkish Air Force Headquarters Flight Training Department. He joined Turkish Airlines as a First Officer in 2006 and was appointed as a Captain Pilot in 2009.

In Turkish Airlines, he served as the Quality Assurance Directorate Inspector, Quality Assurance (Flight Operations) Manager, Executive Vice President of Flight Operations  (Chief Pilot) and as of 27 January 2022, has been appointed as a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and  as the Chief Flight Operations Officer.

Dr. Orhan Birdal

Member of the Board of Directors

Mr. Birdal was born in Kemah, Erzincan in 1958 and completed his primary and high school education in Istanbul. In 1980, he graduated from Istanbul Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences, College of Journalism and Public Relations. Mr. Birdal completed his graduate degree from the Social Sciences Institute of Marmara University in 1990. In June 2022, Mr. Birdal completed his doctorate in the Department of Business Administration, Institute of Social Sciences, University of Turkish Aeronautical Association.

Dr. Melih Şükrü Ecertaş

Independent Member of the Board of Directors

Born in İnegöl, Bursa in 1987, Mr. Ecertaş graduated from Kartal Anatolian Imam-Hatip high school in 2004. He studied Business Administration at Beykent University and graduated as a valedictorian in 2009.

After his Bachelor’s Degree, granted with Fulbright scholarship, Mr. Ecertaş took his Master’s Degree at Emerson College in Boston, United States in Marketing Communications department. Following his research assistant position at MIT/Sloan School of Management, he completed his PhD degree at Gebze Technical University in Management and Organization.

He served as the Corporate Development Manager and Member of the Board of Directors at Çilek Furniture.

He is working as Management Consultant and worked in many domestic and international organizations in “Human Resources System Design, Performance Management Systems, Employee Rewarding Models, Strategic Planning, Talent Management, HR Digital Transformation and other Organizational Development” projects.

Mr. Ecertaş, who has been involved in civil society and youth studies since secondary education, has undertaken important responsibilities at various levels from the Provincial Organization to the Headquarters in the AK Party Youth Branches in 2012-2018. He still continues to volunteer in various youth-related NGOs.

Mr. Ecertaş has an excellent command of English and a good command of German and Arabic. He is married and has two children.

Şekib Avdagiç

Independent Member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee

Şekib Avdagiç was born in 1959 in Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina). He started his primary education in Cologne (Germany) and completed his primary and secondary education in İstanbul. He graduated from İstanbul Technical University Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in 1982. He completed Istanbul University Business Administration Programme with a degree in 1988. Mr. Avdagiç is still the CEO of a company operating in the automotive industry.

He was one of the founder members of the “Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association” (MÜSİAD) and took charge as the Association’s Vice President until 2000. Between 1995 and 1999 he acted as a member of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) Assembly. In 2005 he was elected as the member of the ICOC Executive Board. Through the years 2008-2009 Mr. Avdagiç was a member of the Executive Council of the İstanbul 2010 - European Capital of Culture Agency. He became the agency’s Executive Council President in 2009 and remained so until the project was completed in June 2011.

From 2009 to 2013 he served in the Executive Board of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce as the Vice President. From 2013 to 2019 he was the Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Composites Manufacturers Association. He has been elected as the President of the ICOC Assembly in May 2013 and held this position until 2018. In April 2018, he was elected as the President of ICOC Executive Board. Since September 2019, he has been serving as Vice President of “Danube Chambers of Commerce Federation”. In addition to these duties, Mr. Avdagiç also holds various positions in the following institutions:

• • Chairman of the Board, Commercialization Center of Istanbul
• • Chairman of the Board, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Education and Social Services Foundation
• • Chairman of the Board, The Tourism Development and Education Foundation
• • President, The Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau
• • Vice President of the Board, Istanbul World Trade Center
• • Vice President of the Board, Teknopark Istanbul
• • Member of the Board, Foreign Economic Relations Board 
• • Member of the Board, Istanbul Development Agency
• • Member of the Board, Association of Automotive Parts and Components Manufacturers
• • Member of the Board of Trustees, Istanbul Commerce University
• • Member of the Board of Trustees, International University of Sarajevo
• • Member of the Board of Trustees, The Prof. Fuat Sezgin Research Foundation for the History of Science in Islam
• • Member of the Board of Trustees, Istanbul Technical University Development Foundation
• • Member of the Board of Trustees, Academic, Foundation of Bosnia Sandžak Culture and History
• • Member of the Advisory Board, Istanbul Technical University
• • YÖK (Council of Higher Education)- Member of University and Industrial Cooperation Commission

Mr. Avdagiç speaks English and Bosnian. He is married and has two children.

Assoc. Prof. Fatmanur Altun

Independent Member of the Board of Directors

Born in Kocaeli in 1979, Fatmunur Altun completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology Department in İstanbul University. Between 2002-2003, Altun had been in United States of America to conduct various research studies. She took her Master’s Degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Marmara University’s Institute of Middle East and Islamic Countries Studies with the thesis titled "The Role of Discourse of Greater Middle East Project in Formation of Post 2000 Turkish Nationalism”. Starting her doctoral studies at the same department in 2014, she earned her PhD Degree in 2018 with her dissertation titled “The ’Social Benefit’ Approach of Secular and Faith-Based Non-Governmental Organizations in Turkey: Case Studies of the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life and Turkish Youth and Education Service Foundation”.

Working in the publishing sector as a translator and editor since 2000, Altun served as the department editor of Anlayış Magazine from 2005 to 2010 and as a columnist for the news portal World Bulletin from 2006 to 2011. Between 2009-2012, she served a member of the directors of AK Party İstanbul Provincial Administration. She was a member of the board of directors of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Culture Inc. through 2012-2016 and has been working at Marmara University since 2015. Altun has copyright and translation works. In addition to the seminars and conferences she has given on different platforms, she also serves as a columnist at Fikriyat Newspaper, and her articles are regularly published in various media.

Altun is the Chairman of the Executive Board of Turkish Youth and Education Service Foundation (TÜRGEV) as well as a member of the Executive Board of Turkish Airlines and Women and Democracy (KADEM) Foundation. Fluent in English and good in Arabic and Ottoman Turkish, Altun is married and has four children.