Board of Directors
Mahmut Levent Ünlü
CHAIRMAN
Mahmut L. Ünlü graduated from the Mechanical Engineering Department of Georgia Institute of Technology in 1989 and received an MBA degree from Rice University, Houston in 1991. He started his career in İktisat Bankası, a Turkish merchant bank in Corporate Finance in 1991. He then moved to Yatırım Bank, Turkey’s first investment bank, and set up the Bank’s Corporate Finance, Research and International Capital Markets businesses subsequently serving as Assistant General Manager between 1992 and 1995. In 1996, he left Yatırım Bank to co-found Dundas ÜNLÜ, a pioneer in M&A advisory. Mr. Ünlü served as Managing Partner and latterly as the CEO and built Dundas ÜNLÜ into the leading investment advisory and asset management group in Turkey. He formed a strategic partnership with Standard Bank Group London Holdings in 2007, called “Standard ÜNLÜ” and served as the Deputy Chairman and CEO. He was also a member of the International Executive Committee of Standard Bank between 2008 and 2012. In 2012, he formed ÜNLÜ & Co’ to acquire 75% stake of Standard ÜNLÜ as well as to control stakes in various asset management businesses and is currently serving as the Chairman and CEO.
Can Ünalan
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Can Ünalan graduated from the Business Administration Department of İstanbul University in 1985, majoring in finance and received an MBA degree from Marmara University in 1986. Mr. Ünalan started his banking career in İşbank Audit Department in 1986 and then joined ABN AMRO Bank between 1993 and 2006, holding various positions ranging from CRO (Chief Risk Officer), COO (Chief Operations Officer) to CEO & Board Member. Being a member of Country Credit Committee and ALCO, Mr. Ünalan actively participated in the management positions within the organization. In 2006, Mr. Ünalan joined Garanti Bank - GE Capital partnership and was a member of the Corporate and Commercial Risk Committee. Before joining ÜNLÜ & Co, Mr. Ünalan was acting as the Turkey CEO in Mubadala GE Capital. He is now acting as the Deputy Chairman of ÜNLÜ & Co.
İbrahim Romano
BOARD MEMBER
İbrahim Romano graduated from Boğaziçi University Economics Department in 1992 and attended International Relations Program at Istanbul University in 1993. He worked as a Project Assistant at Carrefour between 1993 and 1994, as an Assistant Manager at Yatırım Bank between 1994 and 1996 and as a Manager at Dundas ÜNLÜ between 1996 and 2002. He is serving as the Managing Director of the Corporate Finance Advisory Department at ÜNLÜ & Co. Mr. Romano is also Board Member of ÜNLÜ & Co.
Şebnem Kalyoncuoğlu Ünlü
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER
After graduating from the Boğaziçi University Business Administration Department in 1995, Şebnem Kalyoncuoğlu Ünlü received her master’s degree in International Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics in 1996. Ünlü started her career at ABN AMRO Bank in Turkey, and served as Assistant Manager in the Structured Finance Unit of the Bank between 1996 and 1999. Joining Credit Suisse London in 1999, Ünlü assumed a role in charge of Turkey within the Emerging Markets Division. She served as Country Manager and Head of Investment Banking for Turkey at Credit Suisse London until 2006. Subsequently, Ünlü worked as Alkhair Capital Turkey’s CEO. Şebnem Kalyoncuoğlu Ünlü is a currently member of ÜNLÜ & Co Board of Directors.
Şebnem Kalyoncuoğlu Ünlü, who is a member of TÜSİAD, YPO and Board of Trustees of Turkish Entrepreneurship Foundation (Girvak), also assumes role at SAHA and the Tate Modern MENA Committee. Şebnem Kalyoncuoğlu Ünlü also manages corporate social responsibility projects of the Company; particularly the “Women Entrepreneurs Academy” which aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Turkey, and to support more women participating in the business world.
Yıldız Günay
INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBER
Yıldız Günay completed her undergraduate education at Boğaziçi University Industrial Engineering Department (1989), and her master's degree in Economics (1992) at the same university. Ms. Günay started her career in 1990 at the Treasury Department of Citibank, assuming trading responsibilities for different asset classes, whereafter she was promoted as Treasury Marketing Unit Manager. She joined Cargill in 1995, and as Deputy General Manager, took responsibilities in the realm of financial trading units, corporate treasury, and financial operations. Subsequently, she founded Cargill - Black River Asset Management Turkey office in 2004, serving as General Manager and Cargill Turkey Member of the Board of Directors, whereby her area of responsibility eventually expanded to include Central Asian and African countries. Ms. Günay served as the General Manager of Turkish Educational Foundation (TEV) between September 2012 and August 2021, where she pioneered the institutionalization and digitalization of the Foundation, in addition to revving up its asset management capabilities.
Özlem Yeşildere
INDEPENDENT BOARD MEMBER
Özlem Yeşildere graduated from Boğaziçi University Industrial Engineering Department and obtained a master's degree in Business Economics at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Yeşildere worked at Procter & Gamble for 17 years in various critical roles and geographies. She served as Regional Chief Financial Officer for Philips Middle East and Turkey and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Philips Turkey. Having served as the CEO of Mobiliz Information Communication Technologies as of 2014, Yeşildere presided over the company’s 360-degree transformation. Subsequently, within 2017 - 2019, she served as Deputy General Manager of Finance and Strategy at Koton Mağazacılık. Since December 2019, Yeşildere has been serving as Deputy General Manager in charge of Finance and Digital Transformation at Mey Diageo. Özlem Yeşildere also acts as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of YenidenBiz, an association committed to raising women’s active participation in business life.