Executive Vice Presidents

Metin Recep Zafer

Information Technologies and Operational Transactions

Mr. Zafer graduated from Marmara University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics and he also completed his post graduate and Ph. D. degrees in Marmara University. Mr. Zafer began his career in 1992 and served as assistant associate, auditor and branch manager at various banks. He was appointed as Executive Vice President at VakıfBank on June 13th, 2006.

Muhammet Lütfü Çelebi

Retail Banking

Mr. Çelebi graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics in 1992. He began his career as an assistant auditor at VakıfBank in 1995. After working as auditor between 1998 and 2001, he took the responsibilities of assistant manager and manager in various branches and departments of VakıfBank. Mr. Çelebi served as the Head of Retail Banking between 2011 and 2013. He was appointed as Executive Vice President on October 4th, 2013.

Hüseyin Uğur Bilgin

Human Resources and Organizational Development

Mr. Bilgin graduated from Anadolu University, Department of Business Administration. He started his career in VakıfBank in 1986 and worked as Manager in various branches. Subsequently, he worked as the Manager of Public Relations and the Head of Board of the Directors Affairs. He has been posting various Board membership role in different VakıfBank subsidiaries, currently at Taksim Otelcilik A.Ş. Mr. Bilgin was appointed as the Head of Human Resources in 2013 followed by the appointment as Executive Vice President on August 1, 2017. Hüseyin Uğur Bilgin was married with two children.

Şuayyip İlbilgi

Financial Management, Strategy and Subsidiaries

Mr. Şuayyip İlbilgi graduated from Gazi University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics. He began to work as Assistant Associate at VakıfBank in 1996. After working as the Manager in various Head Office departments, Mr. İlbilgi was appointed as the Head of Treasury in 2010. He was appointed as Executive Vice President on August 1, 2017. Şuayyip İlbilgi was married with two children. He is fluent in English.

Mikail Hıdır

Loan Monitoring and Legal Affairs

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 VakıfBank. After working as an Auditor, Mr. Hıdır held the positions of Credit Risk Liquidation Manager, Compliance Manager, Head of Loan Monitoring and Legal Proceedings and Head of Internal Audit. In addition, he was the Executive Vice President in Güneş Sigorta and the Board member in VakıfBank International AG (Vienna). Mr. Hıdır was appointed as Executive Vice President on December 13, 2018. He is fluent in English.

Hazım Akyol

Corporate and Commercial Banking

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 career as Assistant Auditor at VakıfBank in 1993. Following his role as auditor, Mr. Akyol worked chronologically as Assistant Manager of Commercial Loans Department and as Manager of Bursa, Kavaklıdere/Ankara, Kızılay/Ankara, Corporate Marketing Manager of Ankara Regional Head Office and Emek/Ankara Branches, respectively. Following those roles, Mr. Akyol was promoted to Senior Vice President position of Institutional Payroll Department and Ankara Corporate Centre Branch. He was also Board member in various subsidiaries of the Bank. Mr. Akyol was appointed as Executive Vice President at VakıfBank on May 31, 2019.

Alaattin Şimşek

Credit Risk Allocation and Lending Policies

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 Assistant Auditor at VakıfBank in 1995. Following his role as auditor, he worked chronologically as Assistant Manager of Blacksea Regional Directorate, as Manager of Trabzon Branch and as Regional Manager of East Anatolia Regional Directorate. At the Head Office level, Mr. Şimşek served as the Head of Support Services and Loan Monitoring Departments. Prior to his appointment as Executive Vice President at Vakıf Yatırım Menkul Değerler A.Ş. Mr Şimşek also served as the Regional Manager in different regions including Trakya, third, fifth and sixth regions of İstanbul, respectively. Mr. Şimşek was appointed as Executive Vice President at VakıfBank on May 31, 2019.

Ferkan Merdan

Payment Systems and Digital Banking

Mr. Ferkan Merdan, born in Kayseri in 1973, graduated from İstanbul 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. Mr. Merdan began his banking career at Ziraat Bank Banking School in 1996. His career in VakıfBank started as assistant auditor in 1999 and he worked as assistant auditor and auditor until 2006. Mr. Merdan worked as Manager at Financial Control Department between 2006-2015 and he was promoted to Senior Vice President position in General Accounting and Financial Affairs Department in 2015. Mr. Merdan was appointed as Executive Vice President at VakıfBank on May 31, 2019.

Muhammed Onay Özkan

Treasury, International Banking and Investor Relations

Mr. Muhammed Onay Özkan, born in Van in 1977, graduated from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, and Department of Finance in 1999. Mr. Özkan began his career as Assistant Auditor at VakıfBank in 2000. Following his role as auditor, he worked chronologically as Assistant Manager at Treasury - Dealing Room Department, as Manager at Aspendos Bulvarı/Antalya Branch, as Manager at Dealing Room and Asset-Liability Management Departments, respectively. Mr. Özkan was promoted to the Senior Vice President position in Treasury department in 2017. Mr. Özkan was appointed as Executive Vice President at VakıfBank on May 31, 2019.