Members of the Board of Directors

Mr. Zahran received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Finance from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom in 2014. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Jordan in 1992. Mr. Zahran is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institution (AAOIFI) and a Board Member of the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI). Mr. Zahran holds several specialized professional certificates including Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from the state of Illinois in the U.S. since 1996, an Auditing License from the Council of the Auditing Profession in Jordon since 1996, Certified Bank Auditor (CBA) from Bank Administration Institute (BAI) since 1999, and Certified Islamic Professional Accountant (CIPA) from the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions since 2006. Mr. Zahran previously held several executive positions at Ahli United Bank Group including General Manager Finance in Kuwait from 2009 until 2014 and Head of Group Financial Controlling at Ahli United Bank in Bahrain from 2005 until 2009. Mr. Zahran previously held the position of Head of Financial Systems Management & Operations Department at Al Rajhi Bank in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2000 until 2005. In addition, Mr. Zahran previously worked as an External Auditor at the international external audit firm Ernst & Young. Mr. Zahran is currently the Group Chief Financial Officer at Kuwait Finance House since 2014. In addition, Mr. Zahran is the Vice Chairman of KFH Capital Investment Company and Board Member at Kuwait Finance House Bahrain.

French citizen, born in Zarzis, 1969. Having various educational degrees including Private Equity & Venture Capital for Executive from Harvard Business School, he graduated from IDB Management Development Program from London Business School, holds a Master of Business Administration from a management school in France named EDHEC, and holds a Master of Science degree in International Economic and Legal Studies from London University. From August 2005 to May 2010 he served as Executive Director Investments and Business Development, International Investment Bank (IIB) in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. In the same year of 2010, he was entrusted to lead the company as Chief Executive Officer and Board member for Oryx Capital Ltd, based in Dubai. From August 2011 until now, he still serves as Director of Investment Department at IDB. He serves as a Member of Board of Directors of Kuveyt Türk since March 2021.

Born in Kırşehir in 1966, Mr. Alpaslan graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Public Administration Department in 1987. He began his professional life at Prime Ministry, Family Research Institution in 1999 and worked as the Ministry Consultant and Administrative Financial Affairs President at the Ministry of Tourism for four years. Alpaslan continued his professional life as the Deputy Secretary and Ministry Consultant at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism between 2003 and 2007, and became the Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency in 2007. Mr. Alpaslan has been a Member of Board of Directors of Kuveyt Türk since 15.04.2011 and he is the Member of Board of Directors responsible from Ethic Banking.

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

Born in Eskişehir in 1958, Ufuk Uyan graduated from Boğaziçi University, Department of Economics in 1981 and received a Master’s degree from the Department of Business Administration at the same university in 1983. After beginning his professional career as a Research Assistant at the Boğaziçi University, Department of Economics in 1979, he served as a Research Economist at the Turkish Industrial Development Bank’s Directorate of Special Research in 1982. Mr. Uyan became a Deputy Project Manager at Albaraka Türk in 1985 and joined Kuveyt Türk as the Director of Projects and Investments in 1989. He was appointed as Executive Vice President in 1993 and later Executive Assistant to the CEO. Ufuk Uyan has been the Bank’s CEO since 1999 and also serves as member of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Remuneration and Nomination Committee, Credit Committee and Assets and Liabilities Committee.

Born in Konya in 1970, Ahmet Karaca graduated from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Public Administration in 1990. Starting his career as Assistant Sworn Bank Auditor at the Undersecretariat of the Treasury in 1992, Mr. Karaca was promoted to Sworn Bank Auditor in 1995. Joining the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency of Turkey with the same title and function in 2000, he became the Deputy Chief Sworn Bank Auditor at the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency of Turkey between 2002 and 2003, and was appointed Chief Sworn Bank Auditor in 2004. Between 2004 and 2006, Ahmet Karaca received a master’s degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany, with a master’s thesis on International Banking and Capital Markets. Mr. Karaca joined Kuveyt Türk Katılım Bankası A.Ş. in July 2006 as Executive Vice President of Financial Control (Chief Financial Officer), a position he continues to hold.

Born in Istanbul in 1953, A. Süleyman Karakaya graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, Department of Business Administration and Finance in 1979. Mr. Karakaya started his banking career as an Auditor at Garanti Bank and later worked in the Internal Audit Board, Risk Management Department and Credits Department of the same bank between 1981 and 2003. He was appointed as Executive Vice President of Corporate and Commercial Banking of Kuveyt Türk in 2003. Since the Corporate Banking segment was transferred to the Corporate and International Banking Department in September 2012 due to the restructuring of Kuveyt, Karakaya now serves as Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking.

Born in Sakarya in 1966, Bilal Sayın graduated from the Middle East Technical University, Department of Public Administration in 1990. Beginning his banking career at Albaraka Türk in 1990, Mr. Sayın joined Kuveyt Türk’s Projects and Investments Department in 1995. Appointed as Manager of the Corporate and Commercial Credits Department in 1999, Bilal Sayın has been serving as the Executive Vice President of Credits (Chief Credit Officer) since 2003.

Born in Istanbul in 1966, Hüseyin Cevdet Yılmaz graduated from Boğaziçi University, Department of Business Administration in 1989. Mr. Yılmaz began his banking career as an Assistant Auditor at Esbank’s Internal Audit Board. After serving in various positions within this organization, he joined Kuveyt Türk in September 2000 as the Head of the Internal Audit Department. Hüseyin Cevdet Yılmaz was appointed as Head of the Audit and Risk Group in 2003. Since 2012, Hüseyin Cevdet Yılmaz has been serving as Head of Risk, Control and Compliance.

Born in Hakkari in 1970, İrfan Yılmaz graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Department of Management Engineering in 1989. Beginning his banking career at the Financial Affairs Department of Kuveyt Türk in 1990, Mr. Yılmaz was assigned to the Internal Audit Department in 1996 and later served as the Head of the Internal Audit Department between 1998 and 2000. Appointed as Manager of Retail Banking in 2000, İrfan Yılmaz was promoted to Executive Vice President of Retail Banking and Business Banking in 2005 after serving in the Retail Banking Department for five years. Since October 2012, he has been serving as Executive Vice President - Banking Services.

Born in Istanbul in 1966, Dr. R. Ahmet Albayrak graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Department of Industrial Engineering in 1988 and received his Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Business from North Carolina State University in the United States in 1993. Mr. Albayrak earned his PhD from Istanbul Technical University in 2007 for his research on Technology Management. Beginning his banking career as a Specialist at Albaraka Türk Katılım Bankası A.Ş. in 1988, Dr. Albayrak joined Kuveyt Türk in 1994 and served in the Financial Analysis and Marketing departments until 1996. Serving in senior management posts in the private sector between 1996 and 2001, he rejoined Kuveyt Türk as acting Executive Vice President of Branch Operations in 2002. Dr. Albayrak was appointed as Executive Vice President of Operations, Technology, and Administrative Services in 2005. After the reorganization undertaken in 2008, the Human Resources, Training and Development, Quality, and Strategy Monitoring Departments also reported to Dr. Ahmet Albayrak, who became Executive Vice President - Banking Services Group. Since October 2012, Albayrak has been serving as Executive Vice President, Corporate and International Banking.

Born in Elazığ in 1966, Nurettin Kolaç is a graduate of Marmara University, Faculty of Law. He worked as freelance attorney and legal advisor in the banking, leasing and insurance industries. Mr. Kolaç served as Assistant Head of Department and Department Head (Legal) at the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency of Turkey from 2004 until April 2010. Boasting 21 years of experience in law and banking, Nurettin Kolaç joined the Kuveyt Türk family as Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs and Collection in April 2010.

A graduate of Marmara University, Department of International Relations, Demir is currently a student of the MBA program at the University of Sheffield. Having started his banking career as Officer at the Kuveyt Türk Treasury Department in 1995, Demir worked for six years in the said department, before serving at the Project Management and Quality Department from 2001 till 2004. In 2005, he was appointed Director of Project Management and Quality. After the restructuring in 2007, he continued his career as Head of Information Technologies. Since October 2012, he has been serving as Executive Vice President - Strategy.

A graduate of the Uludağ University, Department of Business Administration, Mehmet Oral started his career at Kuveyt Türk as Central Branch Officer in 1992. After working for eight years at the Central Branch, he was appointed as Director of the İMES Branch in 2000, and went on to serve as Director of Bursa Branch from 2001 till 2004 and Director of Merter Branch from 2004 till 2005. After the Bank's transition to region offices, he became Regional Director of the Istanbul European Side Region Office in 2005. After serving in this position for 4 years, Oral took office as Director of HR, Training and Quality Group in 2009. Since October 2012, he has been serving as Executive Vice President - Retail and Business Banking.

Born in Istanbul in 1968, Mr. Delipoyraz graduated from the Industrial Engineering Department of Istanbul Technical University. He began his career in Kuveyt Türk family at the Project and Investment Directorate and he worked at the Corporate and Commercial Banking Sales Directorate and Financial Analysis and Information Directorate till 2000. Mr. Delipoyraz worked as the Branch Manager at Beşyüzevler and Bakırköy Branches between 2000 and 2004 and he was assigned as the Regional Manager in December 2004 and he worked at Istanbul Europe 1 and Istanbul Anatolia Regional Directorates. He has been serving as the Executive Vice President of SME Banking since January 2015.

He is the former dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Kuwait University. In 1996, he earned his PHD degree from the Higher Institute of Judiciary at Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. Positions held: the Chairman of the Sharia Board at Kuwait Finance House; a Member of both the Zakat House and the World Organization for Contemporary Zakat Issues; a Member of Kuwait Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs; and an a Member of Scientific Advisory Committee at Kuwait University; the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kuwait Development and Housing Company; the Chairman of Sharia Boards for both the Financial Centre Fund and the Securities Group Fund.

He is the head of the Department of Fiqh and Law at the Faculty of Sharia at Kuwait University. In 1999, he was awarded his Doctorate by the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. Positions held: a Member of Shariah Board at Kuwait Finance House; the Chairman of Shariah Board for the Muthanna Investment Company.

Since 2008, he has led the Department of Comparative Law and Sharia Politics at Kuwait University. In 2002, he was awarded his PHD degree by Cairo University (Egypt). Positions held: a Member of the Council of the Faculty of Sharia and Islamic Studies; a Member of Fatwa and Sharia Supervisory Boards at both the Kuwait Finance House and the Gulf Investment House; a Member of Fatwa Committee for the Islamic Financial Aid Organization.

Durmuş earned his bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Theology at Marmara University and went on to receive both his master’s and doctorate degrees from Marmara University's Institute of Social Sciences, specializing in Islamic Law. He currently holds teaching positions at Istanbul University, where he instructs Islamic Law within the Faculty of Theology and teaches Islamic Economics and Finance at the university’s Institute of Social Sciences. His scholarly pursuits have been concentrated on Islamic Economics and Finance as well as exploring diverse aspects of Islamic Muamalat Law. He contributed as a member of the translation committee responsible for rendering the classical works of Serahsî, "al-Mabsût," and "al-Adawi, Mukhtasar Fethu'l-Bârî" by Ibn Hajar al-Askalânî, translating significant sections of these texts from Arabic into Turkish.

His works: - Fıkhî Açıdan Günümüz Para Mübadelesi İşlemleri (Istanbul, 2009) - İlk Dönem Hanefî Usulcülerinden Debûsî’ye Göre Naslar Dışındaki Şer’î Deliller (Istanbul, 2009) - İslam Hukuku Açısından Yatırım Fonları (Istanbul, 2016)

Born in 1975 in Sivas, Mehmet Odabaşı graduated from Marmara University’s Faculty of Theology in 1998. He obtained his master’s degree in Islamic Law in 2005 from the Institute of Social Sciences at the same university. Odabaşı, presently writing PhD thesis on Islamic Law at the same university, has held multiple roles on the Advisory Board of Kuveyt Türk Katılım Bankası A.Ş. from 2004 to 2016. In 2016, Odabaşı was appointed to the Advisory Board of Kuveyt Türk Katılım Bankası A.Ş. Alongside this role, he also serves on the Advisory Boards of Neova Sigorta and Katılım Emeklilik.
Since his entrance to Marmara University in 1993, Odabaşı has been immersed in Arabic and Islamic sciences under the tutelage of the late Nurettin CAN. During this time, he also served on the translation committee for Imam Serahsi’s “Mebsut” and “İthafü'l-kârî Bihtisâri Fethi'l-bari.” Odabaşı played a key role in a notable project where the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) served as the Supporting Institution, the Participation Banks Association of Türkiye (PBAT) was the Project Sponsor, and Istanbul Zaim University took on the role of the Translation Institution. He contributed by translating half of “al-Meâyîrü'ş-Şar'iyye,” a seminal work published by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), into Turkish, with the translated work titled “Faizsiz Finans Standartları”.
Odabaşı, a father of three, continues to pursue scholarly and practical research in the field of interest-free banking and insurance.