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Improves the story

and creates long-term value

Established in 2000, Esas invests in various asset classes globally, including private equity, real estate, venture capital, and liquid assets with offices in Istanbul, London, and Frankfurt

 
Our Founder
ŞEVKET SABANCI
ŞEVKET SABANCI
Founder (1936 – 2021)

My family and I decided to establish Esas in 2000. Our goal was to form an investment platform that would create value in Turkey and internationally. We set out on this journey with a small team. Today, Esas in as internationally known firm with offices in Istanbul and London and investments spanning six continents. We have investment expertise in private equity, real estate, venture and public markets and are proud to be known as one of the leading Turkish family investment holding companies.

In my 60 years of work experience, I enjoyed many successes. However, I have also faced many challenges. My motivation in overcoming these challenges has always been my belief- in myself, my family, my colleagues and of ultimately, my country.

When I was a young boy of 13, I told my late father Hacı Ömer Sabancı that I wished to work over the summer. I took it upon myself to make a list of expenses incurred, one by one. When I presented this to him, he said: “Dear Son, whatever you spent, it was your own money”. He threw away the list. It was my father’s unconditional trust in me that allowed me to put trust at the core of everything throughout my career. I fully trusted the team that helped to build Esas; and because of their efforts, Esas came to be where it is today.

We are a family. We walk together toward the same goals. We share our gains. We are committed to Esas’s core values. We always advocate for what is right, act according to ethical principles, and keep our promises. We assume responsibility for social development and environmental sustainability, both today and for the future. And in doing so, my father’s core principle of ‘giving back to this land what we gained from this land’ is always our guiding light.

Philanthropy is a family tradition for us. We created Esas Sosyal as the social investment arm of Esas in 2015 with this guiding principle in our hearts and minds. We decided that our first social investment would in the future of this country, yet also one of its greatest present challenges; youth and employment. Our First Chance Program gives youth hope and creates equal opportunity in access to employment.

This Program, which is of utmost importance to me, offers new university graduates their first employment experiences and additional training at Turkey’s leading NGOs, fully subsidized by Esas and our partners. My family honored me by deciding that the First Chance Program should carry my name, as they believed it reflected my core values and life vision.

Whether it be for financial or social impact , at Esas, we support initiatives which are creative, innovative and unique. We are good stewards; vigilant and thorough in all we do. Yet, we are also agile and act at the right time. We respect and value the ideas of our employees and partners, and seek to make decisions together.

In order to continue creating value for our companies, employees, partners, ecosystem and ultimately our country, the Esas family will continue to work with these core values and utmost dedication and conviction.

I am sincerely grateful to those who believed in the Esas vision, contributed to our journey and brought Esas to where it is today.

 

Şevket Sabancı

01.01.2020

The late Şevket Sabancı was born in Kayseri, Turkey in 1936, the fourth child of the late Hacı Ömer Sabancı and the late Sadıka Sabancı. He completed his higher education as a textile engineer at Manchester University in England.

Being among the founders of the Hacı Ömer Sabancı Foundation and Sabancı Holding, Şevket Sabancı served as the Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sabancı Holding for many years. In the first 40 years of his 60-year career, he led the growth of Sabancı Holding in many industrial sectors, especially textile and automotive. Since he moved abroad in 1980, he played a leading role in the globalization of Sabancı Holding.

In 2000, Mr. Sabanci founded Esas and in 2015, led the establishment of Esas Social, Esas social investment unit, He set an example for the business world throughout his life with his entrepreneurial and charitable vision , making a  significant contribution to the development of the Turkish industry. He built on  his family's charitable tradition in the spirit of his father Hacı Ömer’s principle of "giving back to this land what we have taken from this land." He transitioned his role as Chairman of the Board of Esas to his son, Ali Sabancı, on January 1, 2020.

Mr.  Sabancı married Hayırlı Zerin Sapmaz in 1961 and had three children Sadıka, Emine and Ali,. He  passed away on July 22, 2021 at the age of 85.

Board of Directors
ALİ SABANCI
ALİ SABANCI
Chairperson

Ali Sabancı is Member of the Board of Pegasus Airlines and vice chairperson of Mars Sportif which are part of the Esas Private Equity portfolio. He also serves on the board of Esas Properties.

Ali is one of the co-founders of Esas Social, which was established to facilitate sustainable social investment. He focuses on increasing awareness of entrepreneurship in Turkey. As the president of the Young Entrepreneurs Board in the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), he has led successful projects including Angel Investing Legislation, Global Entrepreneurship Congress, G3 Forum, Global Entrepreneurship Week and TIM Innovation Week - Born Global. He is also an angel investor in more than 25 start-up companies.

Ali is a member of the Turkish American Business Association and the Turkish Family Business Association. In 2018 he was awarded the Légion d'Honneur by the French government for his contributions to economic relations between Turkey and France.

Ali Sabancı earned his M.B.A. degree with a major in International Finance from Columbia Business School and B.A. degree in Politics and Economics from Tufts University.

EMİNE SABANCI KAMIŞLI
EMİNE SABANCI KAMIŞLI
Vice Chairperson

Emine Sabancı Kamışlı is a co-founder of Esas and has been serving as Vice Chairperson since 2000. She also leads Esas Social which was established to facilitate sustainable social investment.

Prior to co-founding Esas, Emine served as an executive board member of Aksigorta, Akhayat and Sabancı Holding. Before that, she was the director of commerce at Aksigorta. She started her career at Willis Corroon, a reassurance brokerage company in London.

Emine Sabancı Kamışlı earned her B.S. degree in Economics of Industry and Commerce from the London School of Economics.

ERHAN KAMIŞLI
ERHAN KAMIŞLI
Member of the Board

Erhan Kamışlı is the chairman of Medline Healthcare Group and a board member of Esas Properties.

Before joining Esas as a board member in 2008, Erhan was the president of the Cement Group at Sabancı Holding while serving as the chairman at Akçansa and Çimsa. Previously, he held various positions at Akçimento. He started his career at Exsa.

Erhan is a board member of the Turkish Football Federation. Previously, he served as a board member at the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations, the Turkish Cement Producers Association and Beşiktaş Football Club.

Erhan Kamışlı earned his B.A. degree in Marketing and International Business Administration from California State University.

KAZIM KÖSEOĞLU
KAZIM KÖSEOĞLU
Member of the Board

Kazım Köseoğlu is the Managing Partner & Chairman of of Esas Properties and serves on its investment committee. Also a board member at Esas Holding.

He currently chairs UK network group of Tüsiad ( Turkish Industry & Business Association ).

Previously, Kazım worked as an investment analyst at F&C REIT Asset Management.

Kazım Köseoğlu earned his M.S. degree in International Finance and Banking from Cass Business School and B.S. degree in Business Economics (German) from Brown University.

CAN KÖSEOĞLU
CAN KÖSEOĞLU
Member of the Board

Can Köseoğlu serves on the investmet committee of Esas Ventures.

Previously, Can founded Döner Stop, a fast food chain with eight branches across four cities in Turkey, which he exited to TAB Food Investments in 2018. Prior to that, he worked for various Esas portfolio companies including Gıdaser, Bonservis and Esaslı Group.

Can Köseoğlu earned his B.A. degree in Economics from Tufts University.

KEREM SABANCI KAMIŞLI
KEREM SABANCI KAMIŞLI
Member of the Board

Kerem Kamisli started his career as a strategy consultant at EY Parthenon in London. After three years at EY Parthenon he moved to Istanbul and joined Esas Group. At Esas Group, he worked at the multi-brand shoe retailer Ayakkabi Dunyasi, an investment of the private equity division of Esas. Since 2020 he is a board member at Esas Holding.

Kamisli co-founded Yenibirlider Foundation in 2012, an NGO focused on developing the next generation business leaders of Turkey. He is also a board member and an executive committee member at the American Turkish Society since 2020.

Kerem Kamışlı earned his B.A. degree in Business Administration from Boston University.

H. ÇAĞATAY ÖZDOĞRU
H. ÇAĞATAY ÖZDOĞRU
Member of the Board & CEO

Çağatay Özdoğru oversees all of Esas’ business segments including real estate, private equity, venture capital and wealth management, and serves on their investment committees. He is a board member of Esas Properties and various private equity portfolio companies including Pegasus Airlines, Mars Athletic, Korozo and Ayakkabı Dünyası.

Çağatay joined Esas Holding in 2005 as an executive board member. He played a major role in establishing Esas Private Equity where he served as CEO since 2010, until transitioning to his current role in 2019. He led a number of Esas’ private equity investments and exits of various portfolio companies including UN Ro-Ro, Mars Cinema Group and Peyman.

Previously, Çağatay was the president of IT & Telecommunications Investments at Sabancı Holding. Prior to that, he held various positions at France Telecom Group, where he last served as the executive vice president of the MEA region at Orange Business Services. He was also a member of the Global Operating Committee.

In 2020, Çağatay was appointed as the chairman of Turkey - France Business Council at DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Council) and Independent Board Member of Fenerbahçe Football A.S in 2021. Çağatay is also a member of the Board of Directors at Tüsiad, Turkish Business & Industry Association as of April 2022. Previously, he served as the chairman of Turkey - Sweden Business Council and Turkey - Croatia Business Council, and board member of TBV (Turkey IT Foundation) and TUBISAD (Turkey IT Industry Association). He was also the president of Sigortamnet İTÜ Basket of Turkish Basketball League between 2018-2019.

Çağatay Özdoğru earned his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University, where he received the Hall of Fame Award for Alumni in 2016, and B.S. degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from Istanbul Technical University.

ERNEST BOLES
ERNEST BOLES
Independent Board Member

Ernest Boles has enjoyed an international career in investment, finance and law spanning more than three decades. 

For the past 12 years, Ernest has been a senior executive within the Harald Quandt Group, a leading German investment firm established by the heirs of Harald Quandt, a prominent German industrial family.  During his tenure in the Group, Ernest has served in various senior roles, including CEO of HQ Capital, the Group’s private equity and real estate investment business, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of HQ Trust, the Group’s multi-family office and investment management business and Co-managing Director of Harald Quandt Holding, the Group’s dedicated single-family office.

Ernest currently acts as Vice Chairman of HQ Capital and serves as a standing member of the investment committees of the private equity and real estate investment businesses.  Ernest also acts on various non-affiliated boards, including as a member of the Board of Directors for esas Holding, as a member of the Investment Committee of Beiersdorf AG and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Frankfurt International School Foundation. 

Prior to joining the Harald Quandt Group in 2007, Ernest held senior positions in leading global financial institutions, including serving as CEO of Bank Morgan Stanley AG, Zurich, as the MD responsible for the non-discretionary investment program within Morgan Stanley’s London-based Wealth Management Division for EMEA and as CIO for Citi’s London-based Wealth Management Business in Europe.  Prior to his career in banking, Ernest practiced international tax law with Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy in New York, where he is admitted to the bar.  A former Fulbright Scholar, Ernest earned a Dr. jur degree from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and a JD from the University of Kansas, where he was a member of the Law Review.  Ernest is a frequent speaker at global conferences and events focusing on investments in alternative assets.

AHMET BOZER
AHMET BOZER
Independent Board Member

Ahmet Bozer joined Esas as a board advisor in 2017 and became a board member in 2020.

Ahmet serves as a non-executive board member in various for-profit and not-for-profit organizations globally, including as an advisory board member of Swire Coca-Cola and board member of Hepsi Burada in Turkey, The Whole Coffee Company in the US and the Turkish Philanthropy Foundation in New York. He also holds various advisory board membership positions at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University.

Previously, Ahmet had a long career at The Coca-Cola Company, lastly serving as an executive vice president and the president of Coca-Cola International, leading business activities in 200 countries. Prior to that, he held various other positions including group president & COO of Eurasia and Africa region and managing director of Coca-Cola Bottlers of Turkey. He also served on a number of boards of privately-held joint ventures and bottling companies. Before joining Coca-Cola, he worked at Coopers & Lybrand in Atlanta, serving in a variety of audit, consultancy and management roles. He started his career as an assistant professor at the DeVry Institute of Technology.

Ahmet was a founding member of The Coca-Cola Turkey Life Plus Foundation and served as the chair of the Business Council for International Understanding and head of various business councils including Brazil - US, US - Pakistan and US - Turkey.

Ahmet Bozer earned his M.S. degree in Business Information Systems from Georgia State University and B.S. degree in Management from Middle East Technical University.

DOMINIC SHORTHOUSE
DOMINIC SHORTHOUSE
Independent Board Member

Dominic Shorthouse joined Esas as an investment committee member of international private equity in 2019 and  became a board member in 2022.

Dominic is an active private investor based in London. Previously, he was the founder and managing partner of Englefield Capital, a mid-market private equity firm, from inception in 2001 until its sale in 2010 to the Brenninkmeijer family.  Prior to that, he was a partner at Warburg Pincus & Co. and co-head of Europe. He started his career at Morgan Stanley in London.

As an investor, Dominic has been involved in most sectors and invested in businesses at all stages of development. He has served on more than 50 boards in the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Italy, Ireland, China and the US.  He is also the deputy chair of the Anna Freud Centre, a UK-based charity serving child and adolescent mental health.

Dominic Shorthouse earned his M.B.A. degree from Stanford Graduate School of Business and M.A. in Latin and Greek Literature and Philosophy from Oxford University.

MARNIX VRIEZEN
MARNIX VRIEZEN
Independent Board Member

Marnix Vriezen is an asset management executive with over thirty years of experience. Since 2005, he has specialized in asset management for family offices, intergenerational family dynamics, and assisting families to find their purpose and mission. Between 2005 and 2018, he acted as CEO and CIO resposbile for growth and profesionalisation of Anthos Asset Management. He currently works for various families as CIO, member of the Board, member of Investment Committee, and chairs the advisory committee of a sustainable investment manager.

Between 1989 and 2004 he worked at Robeco Group, a prominent Dutch asset manager, in various roles covering equity investing, manager of equity funds, specialist in quant modeling and special products, after taking on various business development roles, and lastly serving in joint roles as CEO of Robeco Asset Management and CIO of Robeco Group. He was member of the founding board of the Dutch Fund and Asset Management Association (DUFAS), member of the International Advisory Board of Euronext, and served on the Investment Committee of a Dutch family office.

In 1996 he obtained his Ph.D. in Econometrics, centered on Behavioral Finance research, and published the book Mean Reversion & Trending among Stocks and Stock Markets. He followed multiple leadership and development courses at IMD in Lausanne, and the course Exponential Technologies at Singularity University on the NASA Research Centre in Silicon Valley.

Management Team
ÇAĞATAY ÖZDOĞRU
ÇAĞATAY ÖZDOĞRU
Member of the Board & CEO

Çağatay Özdoğru oversees all of Esas’ business segments including real estate, private equity, venture capital and wealth management, and serves on their investment committees. He is a board member of Esas Properties and various private equity portfolio companies including Pegasus Airlines, Mars Athletic, Korozo and Ayakkabı Dünyası.

Çağatay joined Esas Holding in 2005 as an executive board member. He played a major role in establishing Esas Private Equity where he served as CEO since 2010, until transitioning to his current role in 2019. He led a number of Esas’ private equity investments and exits of various portfolio companies including UN Ro-Ro, Mars Cinema Group and Peyman.

Previously, Çağatay was the president of IT & Telecommunications Investments at Sabancı Holding. Prior to that, he held various positions at France Telecom Group, where he last served as the executive vice president of the MEA region at Orange Business Services. He was also a member of the Global Operating Committee.

In 2020, Çağatay was appointed as the chairman of Turkey - France Business Council at DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Council) and Independent Board Member of Fenerbahçe Football A.S in 2021. Çağatay is also a member of the Board of Directors at Tüsiad, Turkish Business & Industry Association as of April 2022.  Previously, he served as the chairman of Turkey - Sweden Business Council and Turkey - Croatia Business Council, and board member of TBV (Turkey IT Foundation) and TUBISAD (Turkey IT Industry Association). He was also the president of Sigortamnet İTÜ Basket of Turkish Basketball League between 2018-2019.

Çağatay Özdoğru earned his M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University, where he received the Hall of Fame Award for Alumni in 2016, and B.S. degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from Istanbul Technical University.

DİNÇER AYDEMİR
DİNÇER AYDEMİR
Chief Operations Officer
COO

Dinçer Aydemir oversees the operations of Esas and leads the tax and legal team.

Prior to joining Esas in 2015, Dinçer was a partner at Mazars Turkey, where he focused on international tax issues, tax risk management, M&A projects, and advised various local and multi-national companies. Previously, he was a tax inspector at the Ministry of Treasury & Finance of Turkey.

Dinçer Aydemir earned his M.S.B.A. degree in Financial Economics from Boston University and B.A. degree in Political Sciences from Ankara University. He is a sworn financial advisor and holds an independent auditor certificate.

MEHMET ÖZKAYA
MEHMET ÖZKAYA
Chief Strategy Officer
CSO

Mehmet Özkaya serves as the Chief Strategy Officer and leads Esas’ business development,
strategic asset allocation, and advisory services.

Mehmet started his career in the World Bank Treasury in Washington, DC where he held various
positions in Capital Markets, Structured Financing, Derivatives, and Risk Management groups
(1996-2002). Subsequently, he led the Global Fixed Income Portfolio in the World Bank Pension
Fund, overseeing more than USD 7 billion of investments in global capital markets (2003-2006).

After his return to Turkey, he joined the BNP Paribas – TEB Group as the Chief Investment
Officer, first in the TEB Asset Management (2006-2010) and then in the TEB A.Ş (2011-2022).

Mehmet earned his PhD degree in International Finance (1999) and MBA degree in Decision
Science (1994) from George Washington University in the United States, and his B.S. degree in
Computer Engineering (1992) from Boğaziçi University in Turkey.

MUSTAFA TERCAN
MUSTAFA TERCAN
Chief Financial Officer
CFO

Mustafa Tercan, CFO of Esas Holding, leads the finance team.

Mustafa Tercan, started his career in Deloitte, and later became a partner at the international audit company RSM Bentley Jennison, where he took part in mergers and acquisitions, post-merger integration, projects on increasing productivity and profitability and gave consultancy to many local and multinational companies and institutions. Mustafa Tercan has been a part of Yıldız Holding since 2010, respectively acting as the General Manager and Vice President of Financial Affairs and serving as Global CFO of Yıldız Holding for the last five years.

Mr. Tercan, a graduate of Ankara University, Department of Economics in 1996, is also a CPA (Certified Public Accountant).

FETHİ SABANCI KAMIŞLI
FETHİ SABANCI KAMIŞLI
Managing Partner
Esas Ventures

Fethi Sabancı Kamışlı leads Esas’ venture capital investments.

In addition to managing his personal investment portfolio in public markets and real estate, Fethi has been an active investor in technology companies globally with investments across five continents. Prior to joining Esas, Fethi worked at BMO Real Estate Partners in London as a Senior Business Analyst. He started his career at Citi Group’s wealth management division in London.

Fethi Sabancı Kamışlı earned his B.A. degree in Economics from Tufts University and holds a certificate in Corporate Finance from the London School of Business and Finance.

KAZIM KÖSEOĞLU
KAZIM KÖSEOĞLU
Managing Partner
Esas Properties

Kazım Köseoğlu is the Managing Partner & Chairman of of Esas Properties and serves on its investment committee. Also a board member at Esas Holding. 

He currently chairs UK network group of Tüsiad ( Turkish Industry & Business Association ).

Previously, Kazım worked as an investment analyst at F&C REIT Asset Management.

Kazım Köseoğlu earned his M.S. degree in International Finance and Banking from Cass Business School and B.S. degree in Business Economics (German) from Brown University.

CUMHUR KUŞÇUOĞLU
CUMHUR KUŞÇUOĞLU
Managing Director
Turkish Private Equity

Cumhur Kuşçuoğlu leads Esas’ private equity investments in Turkey and serves on its investment committee. He sits on the boards of Mars Sportif, Ayakkabı Dünyası and Bonservis and is a steering committee member at Korozo.

After joining Esas in 2009 as a director, Cumhur has become part of the core team that established Esas Private Equity and has led various investments and divestments. He also served on the boards of Mars Cinema Group and UN Ro-Ro until their exit.
Prior to joining Esas, Cumhur was a director in the MENA Buyout Fund at the Carlyle Group. Previously, he was a director at EY, supervising the M&A Advisory teams in Turkey and Southeast Europe. Cumhur started his career at Arthur Andersen, where he worked in audit and M&A advisory services.
Cumhur is a member of the private equity council in the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchange of Turkey (TOBB).

Cumhur Kuşçuoğlu earned his B.A. degree in Economics from Boğaziçi University.

İPEK MUTLU
İPEK MUTLU
Managing Director & Head of International Private Equity

Ipek Mutlu leads Esas’ international private equity investments and is based in London. She is a member of the International Private Equity Investment Committee and serves on the board of Bruin Sports Capital and LP Advisory Committees of HQ Capital Co-investment Fund III and SC Holdings Fund II.

Prior to joining Esas in 2017, Ipek worked for Virgin Management, Richard Branson’s family office, in their Geneva and London offices. Previously, she was part of Blackstone’s Private Equity team in London. Before that, she worked for FTV Capital, a growth equity fund in New York. Ipek started her career as a business analyst in the Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice at Mckinsey’s New York office. 

Ipek Mutlu earned her M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School and B.A. degree, cum laude, in Economics and Latin American Studies from Harvard University.

BORA SUBAŞI
BORA SUBAŞI
CEO
Wealth Management

Bora Subasi oversees wealth management and is a member of its investment committee. He transitioned to his current role in 2020 and is responsible for investment management of liquid assets and family office services.

Prior to joining Esas in 2012, Bora was a senior manager at Citibank in Turkey, where he was responsible for establishing their private banking centre. He started his career at HSBC in Turkey, where he played an active role in developing their private banking activities in the region.

Bora Subaşı earned his B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. He holds Advanced Level and Derivative Instruments certificates from the Capital Markets Board of Turkey.

FEHMİ DURUAY
FEHMİ DURUAY
Director
Int'l Real Estate

Fehmi Duruay is a Director in the International Real Estate team.

Fehmi was part of the Ayakkabı Dünyası deal team and was involved in the sourcing, due diligence and execution of new investment opportunities.

Since joining Esas in 2011, Fehmi has worked on private equity investments in Turkey and real estate investments in Turkey, Europe and the US, and served on the UN Ro-Ro deal team until exit. Previously, he was a financial analyst at Türkiye Sinai Kalkınma Bankası, where he focused on project finance and M&A transactions.

Fehmi Duruay earned his M.S. degree in Finance from Koç University and B.A. degree in Business Administration from Boğaziçi University.

DUYGU ERDEN
DUYGU ERDEN
Director
Tax & Legal

Duygu Erden is a Director in the Tax and Legal team and focusing on local and international tax issues.

Prior to joining Esas in 2020, Duygu was a senior manager at Deloitte Turkey. At Deloitte, during 15 years work experience, she focused on M&A projects, international tax issues, tax risk management, restructuring and provided consultancy to local and multinational companies and managed teams. She also had given lectures regarding various tax issues within the Deloitte Academy, and published articles and booklets on taxation of both financial services industries and financial instruments. 

Duygu Erden earned her B.A. degree in Public Finance from Marmara University. She participated in certificate programs of Belgium Deloitte University in 2012, 2013 and 2018 with respect to international taxation. She is also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 2009.

ÖZLEM AKGÜN EŞMELER
ÖZLEM AKGÜN EŞMELER
Director
Esas Social

Özlem Akgün Eşmeler is responsible for developing Esas Social’s programs and managing its communications and public relations.

Prior to joining Esas in 2020, Özlem worked for Yapı Kredi Bank and its subsidiaries in strategic human resources, learning & development and talent management roles. Previously, she led learning & development projects at Koç Holding, Unicredit’s CEE region and Istek Foundation.

Özlem Akgün Eşmeler earned her B.S. degree in Public Administration and B.S. degree in Labor Economics and Industrial Relations from Istanbul University.

 

ARZU KUNDUKAN
ARZU KUNDUKAN
Director
Wealth Management Operations

Arzu Kundukan is the Director of Operations for Wealth Management.

Prior to joining Esas in 2016, Arzu worked at the CFO of Hisar Group , Bonservis Foodservice and the Medline Healthcare Group. Previously, she worked as an Accounting Manager at Diageo, Ergo Sigorta andEvdi/Landmark Holding for ten years. Before that, she held various positions at Nielsen from 1991 to 1998. Arzu started her career at Nielsen Turkey.

Arzu Kundukan received her B.S. degree in Accounting&Finance from Marmara University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) an Independent Auditor Certificate.

BERRAK KUTSOY
BERRAK KUTSOY
Director
Corporate Affairs

Berrak Kutsoy is responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing Esas’ corporate communications, corporate and public relations strategy. She is also an advisor to the chairman of Pegasus Airlines and Young Entrepreneurs Board in the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey.

Previously, she worked as an international sales executive at Unsa and export manager at Mitterteich, a German brand affiliated to Kütahya Porcelain. Prior to that, she was a project manager at Denizbank. She started her career at BNP-AK-Dresdner Bank as an international relations assistant. 

Berrak serves on the boards of Young Businessmen Association of Turkey, Junior Achievement, the UIP-International Cooperation Platform Executive Committee and BizBizze Association of Idea and Support for Women. She is on the advisory board of INGEV ( Human Development Foundation ). She is an advisor to the Turkish Exporters Assembly and Turkish Business Women Association’s women entrepreneurship supporting fund.
Berrak is a producer and anchor of a television program where she hosts role model women entrepreneurs from different industries and sectors every week. She is also an angel investor and has invested in a number of technology companies.
Berrak Kutsoy earned her M.B.A. degree from Middlesex University Business School and B.A. degree in Business Administration from Koç University.

DİDEM ÖZKANBAŞ
DİDEM ÖZKANBAŞ
Director
Strategy & Business Development

Didem is a Director in Strategy and Business Development team.

Didem started her career in 1999 as a Management Trainee at the Treasury department of  İş Bankası. She worked the following nine years as a dealer on the Turkish Lira Money Market, TL/FX, and TL Bono markets.

In 2008, Didem joined Akbank Private Banking, and during the last 11 years of her 15-year private banking tenure, she served as the branch manager of Yeşilköy and Nişantaşı private banking branches. 

Didem earned her B.S. degree in Business Administration from Bilkent University.

DURUL SELÇUK
DURUL SELÇUK
Director
Human Resources

Durul Selçuk is responsible for developing and implementing the overall Human Resources strategy of Esas Holding. 

Durul started his career in Yapı Kredi Bank as a Management Trainee in 1994. Between 1997 and 2003, he worked in the Human Resources departments in Dusa and Sakosa which are production companies within Sabancı Group, before joining the Human Resources Team of Sabancı Holding Headquarters. Durul joined Citibank in 2003 as Vice Presıdent, where he worked in all processes of human resources functions specifically in Compensation and Benefits Management and Labor Relations. Between 2013 and 2016 he worked as a Human Resources Department Head in Burgan Bank. In 2016 Durul joined Alternatifbank as Executive Vice President and Executive Committee Member. Prior to joining Esas in 2022, Durul was the Global Human Resources Manager responsible for 15 countries at Orhan Holding. 

Durul earned his B.S. degree in Political Science and Public Administration from Middle East Technical University and M.A. degree in Human Resources Management from Bilgi University.

 

ÖZGÜR SUNGU
ÖZGÜR SUNGU
Director
Portfolio Management

Özgür Sungu is a Portfolio Management Director in the Wealth Management team.

Prior to joining Esas in 2020, Özgür worked as the head of multi-asset portfolio management at İş Asset Management, he was responsible with the management of long-only and hedge fund structures investing in multiple asset classes.

Previously, he worked in various portfolio management departments at İş Asset Management between 2006 and 2017.

Özgür Sungu earned his M.S. degree in Finance from Koc Universitey and B.A. degree in International Finance from İstanbul Bilgi University.

SEÇKİN TABAK
SEÇKİN TABAK
Director
Senior Investment

Seçkin Tabak is a Director in the Turkish Private Equity team. Since joining Esas, Mr. Tabak has been involved in various Esas investments including Getir, Insider, Appsilon Enterprise and OPLOG. He currently serves on the boards of Appsilon Enterprise and OPLOG and is a board observer of Insider.

Prior to joining Esas, Mr. Tabak was a Director at Actera Group, an Istanbul-based private equity firm, where he served on the deal teams of Mars Cinema Group (exited), g2m (exited), Mey İçki (exited), Gratis, Çelebi and Mars Sportif. Mr. Tabak started his career at EY in the mergers and acquisitions department.

Mr. Tabak received his B.A. degree in Business Administration from Boğaziçi University.

ŞAHBEY TEKE
ŞAHBEY TEKE
Director
Senior Investment

Şahbey Teke is a Director in the Turkish Private Equity team and sits on the board of Mars Sportif.

Since joining Esas as an investment analyst in 2007, Şahbey has focused on real estate and private equity investments in Turkey and internationally, and has served on the deal teams of various investments including Mars Cinema, Peyman, Air Lease Corp, Fuyao Glass, Ayakkabı Dünyası and Mars Sportif.

Şahbey Teke earned his M.B.A. degree and B.S. degree in Mechatronics from Sabancı University.