With the Data Science industry continually evolving, there can be a lot to keep up with. We spotlight innovative data professionals in Turkey who are transforming and redefining their role, business, and the industry globally.
Ali Serdar Yakut
With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Ali Serdar Yakut is currently the Chief Information Technology and Transformation Officer at Turkish Airlines. He has worked with brands like CORNEA Aero Systems, IBM, Pronet Güvenlik Hizmetleri A.Ş., Güneş Sigorta, and YKB. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Bilkent University, Faculty of Engineering, Computer Engineering and Information Science.
Alper Bayrakli
With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Alper Bayrakli is the Chief Technology Officer at Havas CX Turkey. He has worked with brands like Project House, Turatel Mobil Medya, and Odeon Hotel Management Systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Marketing and Brand Management from Bahcesehir University.
Arzu Umur
She has over 15 years of experience in building CRM, Big data, and martech roadmaps with multinational teams for banks and global organisations in Europe and Asia. Azar Umar is the Chief Data Officer at Mox Bank by Standard Chartered. She has worked with brands like Standard Chartered Bank, UniCredit Bank Austria AG, Yapi Kredi, and Commercial Union. She holds a degree in statistics from Middle East Technical University.
Eray Eren
An industrial engineer with six years of experience in product management. Eray Eren has worked for companies in various industries like Next Ventures, Peak Games, Colendi Hepsiburada.com, ininal, Borda Technology. He is currently the VP of Product and Data at Stealth Startup. He has also participated in non-profit work at Young Guru Academy to help visually impaired people. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Istanbul Technical University.
Fatih Buyukbas
With over ten years of experience in CRM, analytics, data science and business intelligence fields. Faith Buyukbas is passionate about getting actionable insights from data, data-driven business and big data products. He has experience working in industries ranging from automotive to banking. Currently, he is with Wunderman Thompson as the Data and Analytics Director. He has worked with brands like Borusan Otomotiv, DenizBank, Sekerbank, and Mercedes Benz Tuek AS. He holds a master’s degree in Big Data & Business Analytics from Istanbul Technical University.
Gökhan Mataracı
With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Gökhan Mataracı is the Data, Analytics and Digital Leader at KPMG Turkiye. He has worked with big brands like AKbank, EY, and Ereteam IT Services and Consulting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Engineering from Yildiz Technical University.
Gökhan Önal
With 16 years of experience in international IT infrastructure projects, Gökhan Önal also has strong experience in the Energy market and service station operations. He is currently the Chief Technology Officer at Paladyum Elektronik Para ve Ödeme Hizmetleri A. Ş. He has worked with brands like Karaca, Cardtek, Total Oil Turkey, and SmithKline Beecham. He holds a degree in Computer Education from Marmara University.
Gökhan Öncü
With over 30 years of experience in consulting, IT, digitalisation and digital transformation, Gökhan Öncü is currently the Chief Technology Officer at LSTNR. He has worked with brands like Assan Bilişim, BT Global Partners, Şişecam, Brisa Bridgestone Sabancı and IBM Global Business Services. He holds an MBA degree from Yeditepe University.
Hakan Yilmaz
He is passionate about changing the way an organisation perceives data and what can be done with it, by helping them move into an analytically driven organisation”. Hakan Yilmaz has over 20 years of experience in banking and management consulting. He is the EVP, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Yapi Kredi. He has managed data science teams within a large region covering META and India. He has worked with brands like Akbank, Accenture Digital, Garanti BBVA, Barclays Bank, Experian, and HSBC. He holds a master’s degree in Economics and Finance from Boğaziçi University.
Halil Ozcan
With over 14 years of experience in the industry, Hail Ozcan is the Executive Vice President – CDO at Burgan Bank Türkiye. He has worked with brands like TEB, IBM Global Business Services, My Technic MRO, and Toyota Motor Turkey. He holds a degree in bachelors of engineering from Galatasaray Üniversitesi.
Mehmet Zahit Ates
Mehmet Zahit Ates
is the Chief Information Officer at the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey. He is passionate about emerging and promising technologies. He has worked with brands like BKM Bankalararası Kart Merkezi (Interbank Card Centre of Turkey), AYESAS, and SDT Space And Defence Technologies. He holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Onur Koc
He is a leader with over 20 years of experience in leading SW engineering teams and field leadership. With a strong experience in cloud services, innovation and cloud business models, Onur Koc is the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Turkey. He holds an MBA from the University of Washington.
Sinem Yilmaz Tutam
With over 18 years of experience in predictive modelling on very large data, handling various subject areas like Telco, Network, Finance, Marketing, Insurance and Sales, Sinem Yilmaz Tutam is the Chief Data Officer at Allianz Turkiye. She has worked with brands like IBM, Yapi Kredi, Turkcell Technology, and Akbank. She holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Özyeğin University.
Ümit Bilik
An IT professional with wide experience in the financial sector for over 25 years, Ümit Bilik is the Data Management & Artificial Intelligence Division Head in Türkiye İş Bankası (Isbank). He has worked with brands like Anadolu Hayat Emeklilik, SoftTech AS, and Is Asset Management. He holds a degree in bachelor of science from Middle East Technical University.
Yagiz Aydemir
With over ten years of digital transformation and technology experience in healthcare and telecommunications. Yagiz Aydemir is currently a digital & technology leader at Sanofi for the Turkey & Levant region. He has worked with brands like Pfizer, Vodafone, Turk Telekom, Veripark, and Teknosa. He holds an MBA from Boğaziçi University.
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