Elif Karabay
General Manager
Born in Kocaeli, Turkey, Elif Karabay started her undergraduate degree in Computer Technology and Programming at Bilkent University. She was awarded a full scholarship during her studies thanks to her triumphant entry into the “Smart Data Management” competition. Later she was transferred and graduated from the University of Politecnico di Milano.
She kickstarted her career in automation programming in Yokogawa, Italy. Afterwards as a Senior Executive, she developed valuable skills while working in private multinational companies on ERP projects, KVKK/GDPR processes, incorporation and legislative compliance in the media, technology, service, and finance sectors.
Karabay coordinated the legal practices of multinational companies in different countries with official institutions, as well as domestic and foreign company establishments and legislative compliance. Thanks to these projects she has completed, she has gained competence in European Union, American and South American legislation and practices.
She has worked with International Investment banks such as AFD, EBRD, Black Sea in finding financing for public institutions, multinational private companies and their projects, and has taken an active role in providing the necessary financing source for many important projects. She is one of the architects of Turkey’s first Municipality (IMM) Eurobond issuance.
As of June 2020, she started her duty at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) where she managed the KVKK compliance processes plus as a Advisor to the General Secretariat in the field of financial projects and foreign investor management.
As of September 2021, Karabay started her duty at İYA Danışmanlık ve Ticaret A.Ş., the legal entity of the Istanbul Investment Agency. She continues her duty as the General Manager.
She has a good command of both English and Italian. She plays an active role in non-profit organisations such as “Women in Computing”.
FORMER CHAIRMANS OF IIA
Şaban Çağıran
He was born in Adıyaman/Besni in 1961. After Besni High School, he graduated from Mersin Education Institute/Classroom Teaching. After working as a primary school teacher for one year, he graduated from Gazi University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Banking Department, as the second university.
He started his career in banking as an Inspector at Tütünbank and served as Deputy Chairman of the Inspection Board and Deputy Chairman of the Inspection Board for approximately 10 years. He served as the Head of the Organization and Quality Group at the General Directorate of the same bank, responsible for issues such as the establishment of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System and Excellence Model, the establishment and revision of the organizational structure and job descriptions, process activities, creation of legislation, company mergers and carrying out institutionalization studies.
After working as a Bank Manager for 16 years, he served as Deputy General Manager responsible for Human Resources, Purchasing, Accounting, Financial Affairs, Collections, Agencies and Internal Audit departments in various insurance companies for 3 years and as General Manager for 4 years. In addition to these duties; He served as a Board Member and Auditor in securities, leasing and construction companies.
Between 2011 and 2021, he served as Group Manager responsible for Appraisal, Real Estate and Asset Management at Denizbank General Directorate and simultaneously as General Manager at Pupa Gayrimenkul A.Ş., a subsidiary of Denizbank, for 3 years.
Çağıran, who started working at IMM from the beginning of 2021, started working as General Manager at IYA Danışmanlık A.Ş. as of 24.06.2024.
Çağıran, who is married and father of 3 lawyer daughters. And speaks English.
Turgut Tuncay Önbilgin
May 2021 – March 2022
Born in 1962 in Erzurum.
He completed his undergraduate studies in METU Chemical Engineering and his master’s (MBA) education was at the University of Toledo in the USA.
In 1990, he started working as a specialist in Budget Control Directorate at TÜPRAŞ, where he studied as a scholarship holder.
He took part in public offering and privatization research as Investor Relations Manager. After TÜPRAŞ’s privatization, he worked in various positions such as investor relations and planning manager, financial planning, and management compilation director.
Önbilgin has an advanced-level capital market activities license and corporate governance rating license.
Nihat Narin
February 2020 – April 2021
Nihat Narin presently is the general manager of BELBİM Inc., a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM).
ADVISOR
Cem Oba
Senior Advisor
Having more than 25 years of experience in the investment banking sector, Mr. Oba is a graduate of İstanbul Technical University (B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1991), and University of Baltimore Maryland (M.S. in Finance in 1995). After graduation, was employed at Dean Witter-Morgan Stanley, where he conducted equity research on the NYSE & Nasdaq companies (Biotech-& Financials) and marketing of 401 Plan for regional companies.
In Turkey, Mr. Oba has worked for Interbank in Corporate Banking Department, at Kent Investments executing IPOs as a corporate finance manager. He held an executive position on restructuring of the state bank, and coaching the branches of Halk Bank. Later Mr. Oba worked with the Ireland-based M&A house, Jasper Capital, executing M&A deals. Later, as a managing director at ICBC Investment Securities Turkey, Mr. Oba was responsible for Investment Banking Department;the Fixed Income (Eurobonds), Project Finance, Global Syndication, M&A Department and investment banking activities of 16 regional countries of ICBC coverage.
Address: Basınköy Mah, Valilik Yolu Cd. No:10, 34153 Bakırköy/İstanbul
T. 0212 449 4166