Executive Management

Abdi Serdar ÜSTÜNSALİH
Abdi Serdar ÜSTÜNSALİH

(Departments Reporting to General Manager: Lending Policies and Processes Implementation Department, Secure Banking Department, Board of Directors Affairs Directorate, Private Secretariat)

Mr. Üstünsalih was born in 1963 in Trabzon, and began his career in 1991 at Vakıfbank. He served as the manager of various branches and departments at VakıfBank. He then officiated as the Head of IT, Retail Banking, Banking Operations, and Basic Banking Application Development departments. He was assigned as the Executive Vice President in July 2018 at VakıfBank, and he is continuing as General Manager and managing member of the Board of Directors since May 27, 2019. Üstünsalih is also a Board Member at Türkiye Sınai Kalkınma Bankası A.Ş and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Banks' Association of Türkiye. Abdi Serdar ÜSTÜNSALİH is married with two children. He has also served in many foundations and associations.

Metin Recep ZAFER
Metin Recep ZAFER

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of IT Technologies and Operations: R&D, Marketing and Infrastructure Software Development Department, Basic Banking Software Development Department, Digital Channels, Business Intelligence and Payment Systems Software Development Department, System Management Department, IT System and Software Support Department, IT Planning and Coordination Department, Banking Operations Department, Credit, Customer and Account Operations Department, Treasury Operations Department, Foreign Operations Department)

Metin Recep ZAFER was born in 1970 and graduated from Marmara University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics. He also completed his postgraduate and Ph.D. degrees at Marmara University. Mr. Zafer began his banking career in 1992 and served as assistant associate, auditor, and branch manager at various banks. He was appointed as the Executive Vice President at T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. on June 13, 2006. He is fluent in English.

Muhammet Lütfü ÇELEBİ
Muhammet Lütfü ÇELEBİ

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Development: Human Resources Department, Corporate Development, Performance Management, and Academy Department)

Mr. Çelebi graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics in 1992. He started his career at T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. in 1995 as an Assistant Auditor. After working as an Auditor between 1998 and 2001, he worked as an assistant manager and manager in various branches/departments of the Bank. Between 2011 and 2013, he served as the President of the Retail Banking Department. On 04.10.2013, he was appointed as the Executive Vice President of T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Vakıf Faktoring A.Ş..

Şuayyip İLBİLGİ
Şuayyip İLBİLGİ

(Departments Affiliated to the Executive Vice President of Financial Management, Strategy and Subsidiaries: General Accounting and Financial Operations, Strategy and Planning, Subsidiaries and Affiliates)

Şuayyip İLBİLGİ was born in 1972 in Ceyhan and graduated from Gazi University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics in 1994. He started his career as an Assistant Specialist in T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. in 1996. He served as a Manager at the Treasury Department between 2007 and 2010, and then in 2010, he served as the President of the Treasury Department. He was appointed as the Executive Vice President of T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. on 01.08.2017.

Mikail HIDIR
Mikail HIDIR

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Law and Legal Proceedings: Chief Legal Counsel, Legal Affairs Department, Credit Risk Liquidation Department)

Mr. Hıdır, born in 1979 in Kepsut/Balıkesir, graduated from Ankara University, Faculty of Law in 2000 and worked as a lawyer for some time. In 2003, he began his career as an Assistant Auditor at T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. After working as an Auditor, Mr. Hıdır held the positions of Credit Risk Liquidation Manager, Compliance Manager, Head of Credit Monitoring, Legal Proceedings, Head of Internal Audit, and Executive Vice President at Güneş Sigorta A.Ş. Mr. Hıdır was appointed as the Executive Vice President on December 13, 2018. He is fluent in English.

Hazım AKYOL
Hazım AKYOL

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Loan Allocation Management: Corporate Loans Allocation Management Department, Commercial Loans Allocation Management 1 Department, Commercial Loans Allocation Management 2 Department, Retail and SME Loans Allocation Management Department, Specialized Loans Management Department)

Mr. Akyol, born in Aksaray in 1969, graduated from Hacettepe University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Public Administration in 1990. He began his banking career as an Assistant Auditor at T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. in 1993. Following his role as an auditor, Mr. Akyol worked chronologically as Assistant Manager of the Commercial Loans Department and as Manager of Bursa, Kavaklıdere/Ankara, Kızılay/Ankara Branches, Corporate Marketing Manager of Ankara Regional Directorate and Emek/Ankara Branch, respectively. Following those roles, Mr. Akyol was promoted to Senior Vice President position of Institutional Payroll Department and Ankara Corporate Centre Branch. He has also been a Member of the Board of Directors of various T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O subsidiaries. On 31.05.2019, he was appointed as the Executive Vice President of T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O.

Alaattin ŞİMŞEK
Alaattin ŞİMŞEK

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Corporate, Commercial, SME, and Retail Banking Marketing: Corporate Banking Marketing Department, Commercial Banking Marketing Department, SME Banking Marketing Department, Retail Banking Marketing Department, Cash Management, Product Development and Foreign Trade Marketing Department, Corporate Branches)

Mr. Şimşek, born in Araklı/Trabzon in 1972, graduated from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Public Administration in 1994. He began his career as an Assistant Auditor at T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. in 1995. Following his role as an auditor, he worked chronologically as Assistant Manager of the Blacksea Regional Directorate, as Manager of the Trabzon Branch, and as Regional Manager of the Eastern Anatolia Regional Directorate. At the Head Office level, Mr. Şimşek served as the Head of the Support Services and Credit Monitoring Departments. Before he was appointed as the Executive Vice President at Vakıf Yatırım Menkul Değerler A.Ş., Mr. Şimşek also served as the Regional Manager in different regions including Trakya, the third, fifth, and sixth regions of Istanbul, respectively. On May 31, 2019, he was appointed as the Executive Vice President at T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O.

Ferkan MERDAN
Ferkan MERDAN

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Digital Banking, Customer Experience, and Corporate Communication: Digital Banking and Distribution Channels Department, Corporate Communication Department, Customer Experience and Management Department, Payment Systems Services Department)

Mr. Ferkan MERDAN, born in Kayseri in 1973, graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Political Sciences, and Department of Finance in 1996. Mr. Merdan has a masters’ degree from the University of Turkish Aeronautical Association, Institute of Social Sciences, and Department of Business Administration. Ferkan MERDAN started his banking career at Ziraat Bank’s Banking School in 1996 and then started working as an Assistant Auditor at the Audit Board of T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. in 1999. He served as an Assistant Auditor and then Auditor on the Audit Board between 1999 and 2006, as Manager at the Financial Control Department between 2006 and 2015, and as Chairman of the General Accounting and Financial Affairs Directorate between 2015 and 2019. Mr. Merdan was appointed as the Executive Vice President at T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. on May 31, 2019.

Muhammed Onay ÖZKAN
Muhammed Onay ÖZKAN

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Treasury Management and International Banking: Treasury Management Department, International Banking and Investor Relations Department, Treasury Middle Office)

Mr. Muhammed Onay ÖZKAN, born in Van in 1977, graduated from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, and Department of Finance in 1999. He started his banking career as an Assistant Auditor at T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. in 2000. He worked as an Auditor between 2000-2007, as Dealingroom Deputy Manager between 2007- 2011, Dealingroom Manager between 2011-2012, and Asset and Liability Management Manager between 2012-2017. He served as Senior Vice President at the Treasury Management Department of T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. between 2017-2019. Mr. Merdan was appointed as the Executive Vice President at T. Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. on May 31, 2019.

Arif ÇOKÇETİN
Arif ÇOKÇETİN

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Credit Monitoring, Financial Appraisal, and Rating: Credit Risk Planning and Monitoring Department, Financial Appraisal and Rating Department)

Arif Çokçetin, who is a graduate of Istanbul University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Finance, worked in the Ministry of Finance for a while, followed by titles at VakıfBank since 1996 including Financial Analyst, Manager, and Department Head. On July 13, 2020, he was appointed as the Executive Vice President.

Kadir KARATAŞ
Kadir KARATAŞ

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Support Services: Support Services Department)

Kadir KARATAŞ graduated from Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Department of Business Administration, and completed his master’s degree at Yıldız Technical University. Since 1996, he has been working as a Financial Analyst, Controller, Manager, Regional Manager, and Head of various departments and branches at VakıfBank. He was appointed as the Executive Vice President on August 13, 2020.

Mustafa TURAN
Mustafa TURAN

(Departments Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Retail, Deposit Marketing, and Payment Systems: Retail Banking Marketing Department, Deposit Management and Marketing Department, Payment Systems Marketing Department)

Graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Business Administration, Department of Business Engineering, Mustafa Turan has been working in various departments at VakıfBank since 2003 with the titles of Auditor, Manager, and Head. He was the General Manager of Borrowing at the Ministry of Treasury and Finance from 01.09.2019 to 20.12.2021. He was appointed as the Executive Vice President on 14.07.2021. He has been working as the Executive Vice President since December 20, 2021.