Turkish Airlines announces new appointment decisions

03.01.2024 - 12:42 / traveldailynews.com / Vicky Karantzavelou / Airlines

Ali Türk took over the position of Chief Cargo Officer as of 1 January 2024.

Turhan Özen, who was appointed to the position of Chief Cargo Officer at Turkish Airlines with the decision of the Board of Directors dated 7 October 2016, has decided to pursue his career outside Turkish Airlines after more than seven years of successful service. He will hand over his duties to Ali Türk as of 1 January 2024.

Turhan Özen, who joined Turkish Airlines with over 25 years of experience in supply chain management and logistics sectors, significantly increased the revenues and global market share of the airline’s cargo brand, Turkish Cargo. In early 2022, Turkish Cargo moved to SmartIst, Europe’s largest air cargo facility, and recorded significant improvements in customer focus, service quality, and product range during this period.

Ali Türk, who took over the position of Chief Cargo Officer as of 1 January 2024, graduated from Istanbul Technical University’s Department of Industrial Engineering and completed an Executive MBA program at the same university. Mr. Türk began his career in 1999 and held positions at Başak Hayat Insurance, Ülker Group of Companies, and Ceva Logistics before joining Turkish Airlines in 2011. He continued his role as Head of Cargo in 2012. In May 2016, he started working at Turkcell, and from March 2017 to December 2023, he served as Deputy General Manager of Supply Chain Management at Turkcell and its group companies, responsible for procurement, logistics, leasing, contract data management, transition rights, construction, and real estate processes.

Furthermore, the organization structure of our Incorporation has been amended, with the position of Chief Commercial Officer being modified to Chief Operational Officer. Following this decision, Kerem Sarp, who served as the Chief Commercial Officer, will continue as the General Manager of Ajet Air Transport A.Ş., and Mehmet Akif Konar has been appointed as the Chief Operational Officer.

Mr. Konar completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees at Istanbul Technical University in Business Engineering. He started his professional career in 1995 and worked in various positions at Belbim A.Ş., Vestel Group of Companies, and Opet Petroleum A.Ş., before serving at Turkish Airlines from 2004 to 2021. During his tenure at our Incorporation, he held positions as Director of Investment Planning and Projects, Regional Director for America and the Far East, Head of Production Planning, Head of Marketing and Sales, and most recently as Chief Commercial Officer. He worked as Deputy General Manager in charge of Strategy at Turkcell from September 2021 to November 2023.

“We thank Turhan Özen and Kerem Sarp for their contributions to our Incorporation and