The business affairs of our company are managed under the direction of the Board, which represents and is accountable to our shareholders. Please click here for the working principles of our company's Board of Directors
Corporate Governance
The business affairs of our company are managed under the direction of the Board, which represents and is accountable to our shareholders. These responsibilities non-exhaustively include:
- Building the vision of the Company, approving of local and international business strategies and determining short- and long-term goals;
- Approving the Company's annual budget and business plans and its revisions;
- Monitoring the strategic and financial performance of the Company and ensuring that corrective measures are carried out as necessary;
- Controlling the Company's annual material expenditures which are not stated in the annual operating plan
- Consistent with applicable law and rules, approving quarterly financial results, the audit report and amendments to the accounting policies previously adopted by the Company or any material change in the method or timing of reporting of the financial results;
- Consistent with applicable law and rules, overseeing the preparation of the annual report and finalizing the same for presentation at the General Assembly of Shareholders
Şenol Kazancı
Chairman of the Board
He was born in 1975, in İstanbul. He graduated from the Istanbul University, Faculty of Law. Şenol Kazancı worked as TVNET General Manager between 2007 and 2011, as the Advisor of the Prime Minister between 2011 and 2014, and as Chief Advisor to the President in 2014. He lastly served as the Chairman and General Manager of the Anadolu Agency between 2014 and 2021. At the Ordinary General Assembly Meeting for 2020, held on April 15, 2021, Şenol Kazancı was elected to the Member of the Turkcell Board of Directors and he is Chairman of the Board of Directors since September 14, 2023.
Figen Kılıç
Board Member
Figen Kılıç, born in 1970 in Gaziantep, graduated from the Selçuk University, Electrical Electronics Engineering department and received her Electrical Engineering Master’s Degree from the Gebze High Technology Institute. Trained in project management, process management, and test engineering, Kılıç also graduated from the Anadolu University Faculty of Open Education, Department of Law, and is studying in the Department of Business Administration of the same university. Figen Kılıç, started her career as technical translator in İhlas Group, before moving to İstanbul Municipality BELBİM A.Ş. for a lengthy period, working on payment projects as R&D engineer, Project Coordinator and R&D Manager. In 2010, she transferred to E-Kent Ödeme Sistemleri A.Ş. (Çalık Holding) where she served as IT and Operational team manager for electronic ticket system integration and management projects in various cities of Turkey. In 2014, Figen Kılıç worked at Turkcell İletişim Hizmetleri A.Ş. and in 2015 was appointed to the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) of Turkey as its first women board member. After her term in office ended in 2019, she acted as Service Delivery General Manager of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services. Figen Kılıç currently serves as Advisory Board Member of BİLTEG Group at TÜBİTAK. Figen Kılıç was appointed to the Turkcell Board of Directors, effective as of January 29, 2021. At the Ordinary General Assembly Meeting for 2020, held on April 15, 2021, Figen Kılıç was re-elected to the Member of the Turkcell Board of Directors.
Nail Olpak
Board Member
Nail Olpak, was born in 1961 in İbecik, Burdur. He graduated from Aydın High School. Holding a degree of Mechanical Engineering Faculty from Istanbul Technical University, Olpak completed his postgraduate education in Energy field at Yıldız Technical University. Starting his professional career at Umar Makina Inc, Olpak, held the position as Vice Factory Manager at Özgün Inc. Olpak worked as senior executive levels at Cankurtaran Holding and he left the group as Vice President. Olpak established his own businesses named NORA Electrical Devices Inc. and PAK INVESTMENT Co. Inc. He still holds the positions as the Chairman of the Board of the two companies and he is the Member of the Board of Directors of the partner companies of NORA and PAK INVESTMENT Inc. Nail OLPAK serves as the President of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) since September 22, 2017. Also, Nail OLPAK currently serves as below; President & Chairman of the Executive Board, (DEİK), Board Member, Export Credit Bank of Turkey (TURK EXIMBANK), Board Member, TURKCELL Company, Board Member, İstanbul Development Agency (İSTKA), Member of Coordination Committee for the Improvement of the Investment Environment (YOİKK), President of World Turkish Business Council (DTİK), Member of High Advisory Board, MÜSİAD, Member of the Founding Committee, International Technological, Economic and Social Research Foundation (UTESAV), Member of the Board of Trustees, Tourism Development and Education Foundation of İstanbul Chamber of Commerce (TUGEV), Member of Founders Board, İlim Yayma Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees, Huzur Hospital Foundation, Member of the Board of Trustees, Human Development and Societal Education Foundation (İGETEV), Member of the Board of Trustees, The Foundation for the Support of İstanbul Medeniyet University, Member of the Board of Trustees, Kandilli Club, Member of Chamber of Mechanical Engineers in The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (UCTEA), Member of Association ofArchitect ve Engineers Group, Member of Association of Mimar Sinan Architects & Engineers Union, Member of Aydın High School Graduates Association (ALMED) Nail Olpak served as the Chairman of MÜSİAD (Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association) for the 5th Term and the Chairman of MÜSİAD High Advisory Board, Vice-Chairman of IBF (International Business Forum), Council Member of B20 Steering Committee of Turkey, Council Member of İTO (Istanbul Chamber of Commerce), Board Member of İDTM (Istanbul World Trade Centre), Board Member of the Huzur Hospital Foundation, Board Member of ENVERDER (Energy Efficiency Association), Member of High Advisory Board and Board Member of MMG (Architects and Engineers Group), Founding Committee Member of Turkish-Japanese University, Member of the Board of Trustees of Commercialize Center Istanbul (CCI), Advisory Board Member of the Faculty of Mechanics of İstanbul Technical University and Board Member of Turkey Silicon Valley. Nail Olpak was granted the title of Honorary PhD in the branch of International Relations by Ahi Evran University and Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. Olpak is married and is the father of two sons who are Architect and Mechatronic Engineer. He speaks English very well. 
Sir Julian Horn-Smith
Board Member
Sir Julian Horn-Smith was born in London in 1948 and graduated from London University with a B.Sc. Hons in Economics. He completed his master's degree in Business Administration (M.Sc.) at Bath University and in 2010 was also awarded a DLL Hon. He served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Bath University for 8 years. He has held various senior positions at Vodafone Group since its foundation in 1984. He served as the CEO of Vodafone International between 1988 and 2006. Sir Julian also served as Vodafone Group’s COO for six years where he was a main Board Director. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors and Risk Committee of Lloyds Banking Group, and Advisor to the Chairman of Etisalat. He was appointed to the Turkcell Board of Directors on April 15, 2021. Sir Julian was honoured with a Knighthood by HM The Queen for services to International Telecommunications in 2004. In addition to his position at Turkcell, Sir Julian is also The Chairman of eBuilder AB (Sweden) and a Senior Advisor at Viasat (U.S.). He is also a Director of Cybereason (U.S.). He works as a Senior Advisor at AlixPartners (U.S. Consultancy) and worked until December 2021 as a Senior Advisor at UBS Investment Bank. Sir Julian has served on a number of public company boards including Smiths Group Engineering, Lloyds Banking Group, Sage Group (Software), China Mobile and Verizon Wireless (U.S.).
Afif Demirkıran
Independent Board Member
Afif Demirkıran was born in Siirt in 1952. Having completed his primary and secondary education in Siirt, Afif Demirkıran graduated from Mining Faculty of Istanbul Technical University in 1973. Later he studied engineering and had master’s degree at the Leeds University in UK. He served as an executive in Etibank, as Head of Foreign Investment Department at the Undersecretariat of State Planning Organization, as General Manager of Foreign Investment Directorate at the Undersecretariat of Treasury, as a Board Member of Eregli Iron and Steel Inc. and Sümerbank A.Ş., as various executive positions in private sector companies, as General Manager and Chairman of Turkish Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (TEAŞ), and as General Manager of Vakıf Enerji ve Madencilik A.Ş.. Being active in politics since 2002, Afif Demirkıran served as Batman Deputy in the 22nd, and Siirt Deputy at the 23rd and 24th periods of the Grand National Assembly Turkey. In the 22nd period, he also served as a member of the State Economic Commission for Enterprises, member of Turkish Group OSCE PA and member of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission. In the 23rd and 24th periods, he was the President in the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission. In the 22nd, 23rd and 24th periods, he served as the Chairman of Turkey-Spain Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. In the 24th period, he also was the Deputy Chairman of Turkey-Pakistan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. Since 2016, he has been the Deputy Chairman of Foreign Affairs Directorate of Justice and Development Party. Mr. Demirkıran was appointed to the Turkcell Board of Directors by Capital Markets Board Decision effective as of March 6, 2020. At the Ordinary General Assembly Meeting for 2020, held on April 15, 2021, Afif Demirkıran was re-elected to the Independent Member of the Turkcell Board of Directors. He is married and has four children.
Hüseyin Arslan
Independent Board Member
He was born in Aydın, in 1968. He graduated from Middle East Technical University, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 1992. He completed his master's degree in 1994 and his doctorate in 1998 at the Southern Methodist University Electrical Engineering Department. Hüseyin Arslan worked as research engineer at ERICSSON, consultant at ANRITSU Company, and held Membership of TÜBİTAK Science Board and ULAK A.Ş and he has also won numerous national and international scientific awards. Hüseyin Arslan received his professor degree in 2013, and is currently working as faculty member at Istanbul Medipol University and South Florida University, and as consultant at TÜBİTAK. At the Ordinary General Assembly Meeting for 2020, held on April 15, 2021, Hüseyin Arslan was elected to the Independent Member of the Turkcell Board of Directors.
Serdar Çetin
Independent Board Member
Serdar Cetin was born in Ankara in 1977. He graduated from Middle East Technical University, Civil Engineering department and holds an MSc in Management (Grande Ecole) from HEC School of Management with a major in strategic management. He is Member of the Turkcell Board of Directors since 14.06.2022. Serdar Cetin served at the board of Play Group from July 2007 till November 2020. He was a management board member of Play (P4 Sp.zo.o.) from July 2005 till October 2006 and was a supervisory board member between July 2007 and June 2017. Following the IPO of Play Group, he was appointed as a member of the Audit Committee, Remuneration and Nomination Committee and Operational and Investment Committee of Play Communications S.A. until its sale to Iliad in November 2020. Serdar Cetin was a board member of Turknet Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S. and its then parent company NetOne Holdings S.a.r.l., between 2007 until April 2013. He served as a board member or board observer in several telco or technology companies including Machinezone, which is now acquired by Applovin (USA), Netia (Poland). In addition, he served as a board member of AASA Polska from August 2015 to December 2019. Serdar Cetin was a board member of WOM S.A. Chile and WOM Colombia and was a partner of Novator Partners LLP. Prior to joining Novator, Mr. Cetin worked at Merrill Lynch investment banking and BNP Paribas Asset Management in London. He works as founding founder in Purplecrest LLP. He is fluent in English and French.
Melikşah Yasin
Board Member
Melikşah Yasin, born in Istanbul in 1975, graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law in 1996. In the same year, he began his master's degree at Istanbul University's Institute of Social Sciences and completed it in 1998 with his thesis titled “Control of the Administration by the Parliament.” In 1997, he started working as a research assistant in the Department of Administrative Law at the Marmara University Faculty of Law. He initiated his doctoral studies at Marmara University's Institute of Social Sciences in 1998 and completed them in 2002 with his doctoral thesis titled “The Capital Markets Board and Its Transactions.” Mr. Yasin conducted academic research at King's College in 2007 and 2008. In 2010, he was appointed as an associate professor at the Istanbul University Faculty of Law. Since 2016, he has served as a professor of Administrative Law at Istanbul University. He has also held various administrative positions at the university. Mr. Yasin, who has authored books and numerous articles in the field of administrative law, is currently a visiting academic at Oxford University Faculty of Law. Mr. Yasin is married and a father of one child. On September 13, 2023, he was elected as a member of the Turkcell Board of Directors.
Ayşe Nur Bahçekapılı
Board Member
Ayşe Nur Bahçekapılı was born in Istanbul in 1954 and is from Trabzon originally. Ms. Bahçekapılı completed high school education in Istanbul Kız Lisesi and later graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law. Starting her career as a private attorney, Ms. Bahçekapılı served as a member of the Istanbul Bar Association Board of Directors and General Secretary from 1988 to 1992. She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations from 1997 to 2005. In 2007, she was elected as a member of parliament from the second district of Istanbul. From 2007 to 2009, Ms. Bahçekapılı served as the Speaker of the Constitutional Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, and chaired the Turkey-Cuba Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group. Ms. Bahçekapılı served as the Deputy Group Chairman of the Justice and Development Party from 2009 to 2013. From July 2013 to June 2015, she held the position of Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, and resumed the role from November 2015 to June 2018. From 2020 to 2023, Ms. Bahçekapılı served as the Chief Advisor to the President and continues to hold the position of a member of the Legal Policies Council of the Presidency. On September 14, 2023, she was elected as a member of the Turkcell Board of Directors.
