Directors

Güler Alışık obtained her bachelor’ degree in Law from Ankara University in 1987. In 2016, she completed her graduate studies in International Trade at Ankara University. Between 1988 and 1995, she worked for the Koç Group as an associate lawyer, and from 1995 to 1998, she worked for the HSK company as a legal counsel. Between 1998 and 2000, she worked as a legal counsel at the Güreli accounting and international audit company. From 2000 to 2005, she worked as the vice chief legal counsel at Bayındır Holding, and from 2005 to 2011, as the chief legal counsel at Avivasa. From 2018, she worked as a legal counsel at Yeditepe University. Alışık is the Chief Legal Officer in Sabancı University since January 2022.

Ziya Alpay graduated from Boğaziçi University, Department of Civil Engineering in 1994. He worked as Assistant Secretary General at Bahçeşehir University between 2001 and 2004, General Manager at Uğur Bilgi Teknolojileri between 2004 and 2008, Secretary General at Bahçeşehir University between 2008 and 2018, Member of the Board of Trustees of Bahçeşehir University between 2018 and 2021, CEO at Malta American University between 2020 and 2022, and Managing Partner at his own firm, Digital Transformation Group, in 2022. Alpay has been the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative Director (CIO) of Sabancı University since November 2022.

He received his BA in International Relations (1998) from İstanbul University, Faculty of Political Sciences and his master's degrees in European Law from Marmara University European Union Institute and in Information Studies from Aberystwyth University in Wales. He joined Sabanci University in 2005. After several duties in the Information Center, he has been appointed as Director in May 2013. He has also been acting as a board member of Anatolian University Libraries Consortium (ANKOS).

Mr. Bayırlı received his B.S.c degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, his master’s degree in Information and Telecommunication Systems from the John Hopkins University and MBA from Koç University. He had worked in textile industry between the years 2003 and 2011. He also took various management responsibilities in Koç University Facilities Management from 2012 to 2017. In addition, he has managed various revenue generated projects. Mr. Bayırlı joined Sabancı University as the Director of Business Development Unit in December 2017 and he is the Director of Institutional Partnerships and Alumni Relations Unit since February 2021.

Ms. Mutlu Bozkurt Besimzade received her B.A. degree in Business Administration from Boğaziçi University in 1992 and her Executive MBA degree from Istanbul Bilgi University in 2000. She started her career in Borusan Otomotiv as Sales Executive. From 1994 to 1997 she worked as Brand Manager at Wella Türkimya. She assumed the Business Unit Manager, Consumer & OTC Products position at GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals between 1997 and 2000. She moved her career to Türknet to take the Deputy General Manager responsible for Marketing and Product Development position until 2001. From 2002 to 2008 she worked as Marketing Manager for Groupe SEB, a producer of small domestic appliances. Between 2009 and 2012, she assumed Industrial Marketing and Sales Director role at Unmaş, a member of Doruk Group. Within the same Group, she held the position of Deputy General Manager at Komşu Fırın and General Manager at Zeelandia Doruk in following years. She worked for Nurus as Head of Marketing and Business Development and then assumed the Marketing Director role at Özsüt until 2017. In the same year, she established a startup company, Beşiktepe Zeytincilik, and created her own brand. She joined Sabancı University as Marketing and Institutional Communications Director in November 2019.

Gonca Börekçi Baybaş completed her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1985, Börekçi Baybaş received her MBA degree from Middle East Technical University in 1988 and started her career as a management trainee in Deloitte in the same year. Börekçi Baybayş gave statistics, accounting, calculus courses at Bilkent University as an instructor between 1994 and 1998, and held administrative duties. Börekçi Baybaş continued her PhD program in the field of "Management and Organization" at Sabancı Business School. Gonca Börekçi Baybaş is coordinating and managing the work, process, resource, service, customer and program development activities of Sabancı University Executive Development Unit EDU since its establishment, Gonca Börekçi Baybaş became the Director of EDU in 2022 with her 20 years of experience in the field of professional development and executive training.

She obtained her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Istanbul University in 1994 and her post graduate degree in Marketing Management from Centro Internacional de Altos Estudios Agrarios Mediterràneos de Zaragoza in 1996, her master's degree in Marketing and Marketing Research from Navarra Public University in 1997. She worked as Assistant Manager at Finans Portföy Yönetimi A.Ş. between 1998 and 2002, and as Senior Assistant Manager at Citibank in 2002. She worked at our university as FASS Administrative Affairs Officer between 2002 and 2008, and FASS Administrative and Academic Affairs Manager between 2008 and 2021. She has been working as the Secretary General’s Office Group Manager since February 2021. She has been appointed as the Secretary General of the Museum, effective from August 1, 2023.

Talat Durgut obtained his bachelor’s degree (1997) and master’s degree (2000) in Mechanical Engineering from Yıldız Technical University. He started his PhD in Mechanical Engineering Energy program at the same university. He started his career in 1996 as a Site Engineer. In 1998, he started to work for Kale Aero Company as Process Development and Manufacturing Engineer in charge of domestic and international projects, and later on, as 6 Sigma Black Belt, Quality Control Leader, and Aerospace Projects Manager. Moving to GE Aviation in 2007 to work as Director of Advanced Manufacturing, Durgut led the team that developed and industrialized new technologies for global manufacturing facilities of aircraft engine parts. From 2016 to 2021, he worked for GE Renewable Energy as Global Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Brilliant Factory, and Global Director of Cost Engineering, respectively. From 2021, Talat Durgut worked as Global Director of Manufacturing Systems at GE Renewable Energy / LM Wind Power, where he built short- and long-term manufacturing strategies for wind turbine blades and led the development and implementation of new manufacturing technologies via artificial intelligence methods. Mr. Durgut is the Director of SUATT since January 2022.

Bora Şekip Güray received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Nuclear Engineering from Hacettepe University (1997 and 2001) and earned qualification in his Ph.D. studies in Mechanical Engineering from Middle East Technical University. He worked as Research Assistant in Hacettepe University between 1997 and 1998. From 1998 to 2001, he worked as Project Engineer and Chief Engineer in the Turkish Electricity Generation and Transmission Co.. Mr. Güray served as Expert, Advisor to the Director General of Energy Affairs, Head of Division and Acting Head of Department in the General Directorate of Energy Affairs of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources from 2001 to 2011. Between 2011 and 2018, he worked as Energy Group Manager in Sabanci Holding. Bora Şekip Güray participated in various projects including energy planning and energy market operations, energy policy development and implementation, energy sector investments and asset management and worked in regional and international projects in the energy field. Güray joined Sabanci University as the Director of Research at IICEC in 2018 and has contributed to the increase of IICEC’s research base and public recognition as well as the development of the energy sector itself with activities on the implementation and presentation of various research reports, development of different research projects and enhancing engagement with public-industry-academia stakeholders. Mr. Güray is the Director of IICEC since December 2020.

His bachelor' s degree is in Mechanical Engineering, from the Yıldız Technical University, and his master' s degree is in Engineering Management from the Marmara University. 2000 - 2001 worked as a Service Engineer at Temsa / Komatsu Construction Machinery, 2002 - 2004 worked as a Mechanical Engineer at Foster Wheeler Bimaş, 2004 - 2011 worked as a Purchasing Specialist and later as an Internal Auditor at Brisa Bridgestone Sabancı Tyre A.Ş. 2011 March started his job at the Sabancı University.

Murat Kaplan received his undergraduate degree from Akdeniz University, Department of Tourism and Hotel Management. Kaplan participated in an international internship program at Marco Island Marriott Resort and Golf Club in Florida, USA for 2 years. Murat Kaplan worked at all levels in Hyatt International Hotels and returned to Turkey from Baku in 2011. After working as the Food and Beverage Director for 2 years at the opening of the Hilton Bomonti hotel, Kaplan served as the business unit manager of the Shake Shack brand within Al Shaya for 3 years. Murat Kaplan moved to Grand Hyatt Istanbul, a part of Hyatt International Hotels, as the Operations Director and worked for 3 years. Murat Kaplan started working at Sabancı University in December 2020.

Elçin Karana Sürücü received her bachelor's degree in International Relations from Ankara University in 2003, her master's degree in European Studies from Charles University in 2013, and her Ph.D. in International Relations from METU in 2020. Starting her career in the field of radio and television, Karana Sürücü worked as a newscaster, program producer and presenter between 2003 and 2005. From December 2005 to October 2009, she worked as a Political Affairs Specialist at the Ministry of National Defense, and during this period, she joined the European Security Academy as the representative of Turkey to the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) in Switzerland. She took part in the organization of the 26th International Security Conference held in Istanbul in 2009 by the Center for Strategic Decision Research, and ranked among the representatives of the Ministry in the 31st chapter of Turkey's EU membership negotiation process. During her term of office, she served in many foreign representation duties in the field of European security and defense cooperation. She worked as EVS Program Project Coordinator at Ondokuz Mayıs University Erasmus Office between June 2010 and September 2012, as International Students Office Coordinator at Middle East Technical University Student Affairs Department between February 2014 and November 2016, and as International Programs Office Director at TED University between November 2016 and August 2022. At TED University, she took part in different projects as a coordinator and manager, and taught in the TED University Migration Studies graduate program. Elçin Karana Sürücü has been the Student Resources Director at Sabancı University since April 2023.

Ms. Huriye Okumuşoğlu Pandul received her B.S. degree in Political Science and Public Administration from Middle East Technical University. Ms. Pandul worked as Experienced Senior in PWC from 2000 to 2004. Between 2004 and 2009, she worked as Budgeting and Consolidation Manager in Sabancı Holding. From 2009 to 2013, she worked as Group Planning and Controlling Manager in Enerjisa. Ms. Pandul has worked as Finance Director in Enerjisa Perakende Satış A.Ş between 2013 and 2019. Pandul is the Chief Financial Officer in Sabancı University since April 2019.

Born in İstanbul, Dr. Ölçer studied Ethnology, ancient history and history of art at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. During these years she worked intensively at the collections of the University (Departments for Antiquity and Ethnology ) and later at the Museum for Ethnology in Munich. In 1972 she began working as curator at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. In 1975 and 1978 she worked as guest curator at the Museum for Ethnology in Vienna and at the Museum for Islamic Art in Berlin. In 1978 she was appointed as director of the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art in Istanbul. Ms. Ölçer has participated at many excavations, particularly at the excavations in Karatepe / Adana in South Anatolia; in Selçikler / Uşak in Western Anatolia during the campaigns between 1974 - 1979. She is the author of many documentary films on traditional handicrafts made for the Film Centre of The Vienna University (Institut für den wissenschaftlichen Film) and for the Scientific Film Institute in Göttingen / Germany. She participated and directed research projects such as the settlement of the nomadic tribes Beritan and Alikan in Eastern Anatolia 1979; documentation of traditional crafts and craftsmen in the neighbourhood of Istanbul (1982 - 1984). 1976 - 1984 she lectured at the Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul (City Planning and Restoration Department ) for the post-graduate programmes. She is the organiser and co-operator of many international exhibitions. In 2003 she retired from the Turkish and Islamic Art after 25 years of directorship and took over the presidency at the newly founded Sakıp Sabancı Museum. Dr. Ölçer has published many books, catalogues, and articles on carpets and kilims, the art of metalworking, museology and cultural changes. She is member of many international institutions (National Committee of Turkish ICOM; Turkish National Comittee of Unesco; Board member of ICAMT; Corresponding member of German Archaeological Institute; Board member of the National Foundation Preservation of Historical Monuments and Environment: TAÇ; board member of The American Research Institute in Turkey ARIT, advisory board member both of the Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts and Mimar Sinan University, Department of Fine Arts) related to museology and history of art. She is the recipient of the "Museologist of the year" award from the Turkish Ministery of Culture, of the "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres" award from the French Ministry of Culture, the "Bundesverdienstkreuz" order from the President of Federal Germany, "Kryzem Kawalerskim?" order from the President of The Republic of Poland, and the order of "Cavalieri di Omri" from the Italian President. In 2003 she received the honorary doctorate title (Dr. h. c) from the University of Bern, Switzerland for her great contribution to the understanding of different cultures between nations.

Devrim Özaydın received his B.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering from Middle East Technical University in 1996. After working as Planning and Quality Assurance Engineer in Depa Pharmaceuticals in 1998, Mr. Özaydın started to work as Training Specialist in Dupont Performance Coatings in 1999. Joining Kordsa as Technical Engineer in June 2000, he worked as Yarn Production Manager between the years 2005 and 2010. In 2010, he started to work as Yarn Plant Manager and completed Sabancı University Turquality Executive Development Program in 2012. Mr. Özaydın worked as Yarn Production Director between July 2011 and February 2014, and was appointed to Kordsa Brazil as Manufacturing Director. Appointed as Thai Indo Kordsa Operations Director in November 2015, Mr. Özaydın has worked as Kordsa Global Technology Director between the dates July 2018 and August 2021. Mr. Özaydın is the CEO of SU-IMC since September 2021.

Berrin Yılmaz received her B.A. degree in Business Administration from Middle East Technical University in 1993 and her MBA degree from Bilkent University in 1995. Starting her career as a Human Resources Specialist at Eczacıbaşı Holding in 1995, Yılmaz worked as Eczacıbaşı-Baxter Human Resources Manager between 1998 and 2006, as Roche Pharmaceuticals Human Resources Director and Roche Pharmaceuticals Switzerland Global Human Resources Business Partner, between 2006 and 2015, and as General Manager at Atrain Gmbh Turkey office between 2015 and 2017. Working as the Human Resources Director at Sabancı Holding from 2017 to 2018, Yılmaz worked as the Vice General Manager for Human Resources at Akçansa between 2018 and 2022. Yılmaz has been the Chief Human Resources Officer of Sabancı University since September 2022.

Mr. Mete Yücel received his BS in Computer Engineering from Hacettepe University in 1993. He started his career as a Software Engineer in 1992 and continued as an Information Systems Analyst at Phillip Morris Sabancı in 1996. He worked in the same company between 2000-2016 and took various management responsibilities in Operations Systems, Finance and HR Systems,Sales & Marketing Systems. He moved his career to IFS Türkiye to take Chief Operating Officer (COO) role between 2016 and 2020, and most recently he founded his own venture, DAR Digital. Mr. Yücel has been working as Information Technologies Director at Sabancı University since July 2022.