An international CEO/SVP and natural leader, serially successful in driving profitable growth via innovative key driver strategies and transformation in Telco/FMCG, often in complex cultural and politically challenging contexts.
2018- Co-Founder of SocialPeople and BroFin. Business/Start-up Mentor, Investor
2015-2017 LIFECELL (Subsidiary of Turkcell)– T/o $250M, Telco Company.
CEO – based Kiev/Ukraine
Promoted to hold leading responsibility of Turkcell Ukraine branded as Life: ).
• Brand change from Life:) to Lifecell away from discount brand to quality product.
• Implemented digital products Fizy(Music), TurkcellCloud, TV+ for nationwide coverage.
• Redefined market focus from follower to 5G pioneer.
• Redesigned and developed 250 stores, e-commerce and alternative channels.
• Developed contract smartphone ahead of market leaders Vodafone and Vimpelcom.
• Awarded as fastest mobile operator after 3G deployment
• Employee Engagement scores higher than country and industry averages.
• Leadership in Customer Satisfaction Index and Net Promotor scores
• Increase in subscriber related revenue from 18pp, Price Index to leader improved 19 pp and Consideration ratios based on brand health increased to 24%.
• Awarded second best national CEO of Telco Companies, top 50 all CEOs in 2016.
• Double digit growth for two consecutive years.
2018- Co-Founder of SocialPeople and BroFin. Business/Start-up Mentor, Investor
2015-2017 LIFECELL (Subsidiary of Turkcell)– T/o $250M, Telco Company.
CEO – based Kiev/Ukraine
Promoted to hold leading responsibility of Turkcell Ukraine branded as Life: ).
• Brand change from Life:) to Lifecell away from discount brand to quality product.
• Implemented digital products Fizy(Music), TurkcellCloud, TV+ for nationwide coverage.
• Redefined market focus from follower to 5G pioneer.
• Redesigned and developed 250 stores, e-commerce and alternative channels.
• Developed contract smartphone ahead of market leaders Vodafone and Vimpelcom.
• Awarded as fastest mobile operator after 3G deployment
• Employee Engagement scores higher than country and industry averages.
• Leadership in Customer Satisfaction Index and Net Promotor scores
• Increase in subscriber related revenue from 18pp, Price Index to leader improved 19 pp and Consideration ratios based on brand health increased to 24%.
• Awarded second best national CEO of Telco Companies, top 50 all CEOs in 2016.
• Double digit growth for two consecutive years.
2006-2015 TURKCELL – T/o $4.5b, Telecommunication Service Provider.
2014-15 Chief Sales Officer (Istanbul/ Turkey)
Promoted to manage 475 dealers with 1,147 stores and 9,000 retail sales representatives, as well as direct management for 6 store locations.
• Planned and executed a move from a 5-non-exclusive distributor structure to a 2-master regional exclusive structure with 36 regional distributors that serve 12,000 non-exclusive stores.
• Spearheaded communications and consumer campaigns with Samsung, Apple, HTC, LG, Intel, Qualcomm and ZTE brands.
2010-14 Corporate Indirect Channel Director (Istanbul/ Turkey)
Promoted to set strategy and overall direction, and manage execution of indirect channel projects, with key responsibility for $700m in fixed and mobile revenue, with 60 nationwide dealers, 900 sales representatives and 130 account executives, as well as a 300+ seat telesales operation.
• Directed dealer restructuring and new market penetration, with focus on potential-driven targeting, profit and loss-based spending, hands-on dynamic channel direction, and increased collaboration between telesales and the field.
• Grew revenue by double digits, year-over-year, for 4 straight years.
• Enhanced smartphone market penetration by double digits for becoming segment market leader.
2006-09 National Retail Sales Manager (Istanbul/ Turkey)
• Transformed all stores in preparation for a full set of subscriber tasks and managed ongoing project to locations to a retail brand, and led the renovation of 1,000 stores enlarging floor area which doubled in square meters. • Successfully penetrated the smartphone market from and ramped up 18 pp with dramatic increase in sales. Customer acquisition increased 80% per month.
2014-15 Chief Sales Officer (Istanbul/ Turkey)
Promoted to manage 475 dealers with 1,147 stores and 9,000 retail sales representatives, as well as direct management for 6 store locations.
• Planned and executed a move from a 5-non-exclusive distributor structure to a 2-master regional exclusive structure with 36 regional distributors that serve 12,000 non-exclusive stores.
• Spearheaded communications and consumer campaigns with Samsung, Apple, HTC, LG, Intel, Qualcomm and ZTE brands.
2010-14 Corporate Indirect Channel Director (Istanbul/ Turkey)
Promoted to set strategy and overall direction, and manage execution of indirect channel projects, with key responsibility for $700m in fixed and mobile revenue, with 60 nationwide dealers, 900 sales representatives and 130 account executives, as well as a 300+ seat telesales operation.
• Directed dealer restructuring and new market penetration, with focus on potential-driven targeting, profit and loss-based spending, hands-on dynamic channel direction, and increased collaboration between telesales and the field.
• Grew revenue by double digits, year-over-year, for 4 straight years.
• Enhanced smartphone market penetration by double digits for becoming segment market leader.
2006-09 National Retail Sales Manager (Istanbul/ Turkey)
• Transformed all stores in preparation for a full set of subscriber tasks and managed ongoing project to locations to a retail brand, and led the renovation of 1,000 stores enlarging floor area which doubled in square meters. • Successfully penetrated the smartphone market from and ramped up 18 pp with dramatic increase in sales. Customer acquisition increased 80% per month.
2005-2006 KRAFT TURKIYE (Subsidiary of Kraft Global) – T/o $350M, Packed Consumer Goods.
National Sales Manager (Istanbul/ Turkey) • Implemented successful integration for Piyale category to Kraft distributors • Led a national team composed of 3 Region Manager, 10 Area Managers and Supermarket Sales Representatives to achieve sales and penetration turnover targets of $51M
National Sales Manager (Istanbul/ Turkey) • Implemented successful integration for Piyale category to Kraft distributors • Led a national team composed of 3 Region Manager, 10 Area Managers and Supermarket Sales Representatives to achieve sales and penetration turnover targets of $51M
1999-2006 KraftSA Turkey (Subsidiary of Kraft Global) – T/o $350M, Packed Consumer Goods.
Trade Marketing & Sales Development Manager
• Implemented effective channel management for FMCG, increasing distributor loyalty as a preferred business among distributors, retailers, and wholesalers. • Transformed company replacement cost system into regional process to effectively meet area demands and developed an authority delegating sales discount budget system to allow regions to quickly respond to competitors
• Deployed a mobile selling system with handheld computers for 53 nationwide distributors in 7 months, personally visiting all individual distributors within 36 days of project completion.
• Implemented a central data collection system, later copyrighted and utilized by Tubitak Innovation Committee and successfully transformed Marsa’s quarterly calculated system for sales and distribution teams into a SAP-based daily tracking system.
Trade Marketing & Sales Development Manager
• Implemented effective channel management for FMCG, increasing distributor loyalty as a preferred business among distributors, retailers, and wholesalers. • Transformed company replacement cost system into regional process to effectively meet area demands and developed an authority delegating sales discount budget system to allow regions to quickly respond to competitors
• Deployed a mobile selling system with handheld computers for 53 nationwide distributors in 7 months, personally visiting all individual distributors within 36 days of project completion.
• Implemented a central data collection system, later copyrighted and utilized by Tubitak Innovation Committee and successfully transformed Marsa’s quarterly calculated system for sales and distribution teams into a SAP-based daily tracking system.
1994-1998 MARSH & MCLENNAN – Insurance Broker and Risk Management.
Regional Manager (Ankara/Turkey)
Selected by Country Manager during MBA to manage clients with Global Program such as Coca-Cola and acquire new customers in culturally challenging context.
Regional Manager (Ankara/Turkey)
Selected by Country Manager during MBA to manage clients with Global Program such as Coca-Cola and acquire new customers in culturally challenging context.
Verified International Academic Qualifications
World Education Services (WES) Credential ID wes-17007588
Advanced Development Program – Chicago Booth Business School
World Education Services (WES) Credential ID wes-17007588
Advanced Development Program – Chicago Booth Business School
Licenses & Certifications
Introduction to Neuroeconomics: How the Brain Makes Decisions
Coursera Credential ID P5U2S9GW7KGP
Business Strategies for A Better World Specialization
Coursera Credential ID QUBN2SXVW2SY
Corruption
Coursera Credential ID HVB2YLDXV6YN
Global Diplomacy – Diplomacy in the Modern World
Coursera Credential ID 2R4J33WTLTBA
Global Trends for Business and Society
Coursera Credential ID 7PWAGEAQVWG6
Psychology at Work
Coursera Credential ID 3T3XYEVSG6UZ
Social Entrepreneurship
Coursera Credential ID KTJRU8QNBP9K
Moral Foundations of Politics
Coursera Credential ID 629JAMNXKSRG
Social Norms, Social Change I - II
Coursera Credential ID 9QF78EHPZC39
Introduction to Neuroeconomics: How the Brain Makes Decisions
Coursera Credential ID P5U2S9GW7KGP
Business Strategies for A Better World Specialization
Coursera Credential ID QUBN2SXVW2SY
Corruption
Coursera Credential ID HVB2YLDXV6YN
Global Diplomacy – Diplomacy in the Modern World
Coursera Credential ID 2R4J33WTLTBA
Global Trends for Business and Society
Coursera Credential ID 7PWAGEAQVWG6
Psychology at Work
Coursera Credential ID 3T3XYEVSG6UZ
Social Entrepreneurship
Coursera Credential ID KTJRU8QNBP9K
Moral Foundations of Politics
Coursera Credential ID 629JAMNXKSRG
Social Norms, Social Change I - II
Coursera Credential ID 9QF78EHPZC39
Languages
Fluent: English and Turkish, intermediate Russian
Fluent: English and Turkish, intermediate Russian