Istanbul, Türkiye
I am an HR leader shaped by both breadth and transformation. I have spent my career across the full spectrum of HR — from operations, rewards and compliance to business partnering, talent and culture, building a deep understanding of how organizations truly work. In recent years, I have led large-scale organizational and cultural transformations, redefining operating models, strengthening leadership structures and building high-trust, performance-driven organizations. What defines my leadership is not only what we build but how we build it: → bringing clarity to complexity → strengthening accountability and decision quality → protecting trust, fairness and human connection, especially in times of change I work closely with senior leadership to align people strategy with business priorities, ensuring transformation is not only designed, but owned, lived and sustained across the organization. Because in the end, sustainable impact is not only about results. It is about how people experience the journey while getting there.
Appointed as Ad Interim Head of HR in May 2025 to lead the Türkiye affiliate through a critical phase of organizational transformation, before being appointed as Head of HR Türkiye. Partnering with the General Manager, Türkiye Leadership Team, regional HR leadership and global Centers of Excellence, I lead the end-to-end people agenda for the Türkiye affiliate, shaping organizational effectiveness, workforce strategy, culture and leadership capability to build a future-ready, performance-driven organization and enable sustainable business performance. Key areas of impact include: - Leading large-scale organizational and cultural transformation initiatives, redesigning operating models, organizational structures and leadership architecture. - Partnering with local, regional and global leaders to translate business strategy into workforce, talent and organizational priorities across a complex matrix environment. - Driving organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, workforce redesign, restructuring and change management initiatives while balancing business continuity and employee experience. - Acting as a strategic advisor to senior leaders on organization design, leadership effectiveness, talent management, succession planning and critical people decisions. - Collaborating with regional governance bodies, global Centers of Excellence and cross-functional stakeholders to execute enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. - Strengthening leadership accountability, governance and decision quality through periods of significant organizational change. - Leading culture and engagement initiatives focused on trust, transparency, leadership effectiveness and high performance. - Providing strategic guidance on employee relations, labor law, risk management and complex people matters while ensuring compliance and organizational integrity.
- Drive HR strategy and operational excellence by ensuring seamless HR service delivery across country, with a strong focus on efficiency, compliance, and employee experience. - Oversee workforce budgeting in collaboration with Finance, ensuring accurate HC planning, cost forecasting, and variance analysis. - Lead, mentor, and develop the HR Operations team, fostering a high-performance, agile, and customer-centric HR function. - Shape compensation strategies by collaborating with area & regional HR Team to maintain competitive total rewards practices. - Advise on compensation decisions for new hires and promotions, including salary structures, sign-on bonuses, and equity buyouts, aligning with Takeda’s compensation philosophy. - Lead job grading and role evaluation processes, providing expert insights on organizational structure optimization and career progression frameworks. - Spearhead high-impact HR projects with strategic importance, aligning organizational goals with HR transformation initiatives. Key Achievements: - Successfully led the ICMEA FY21 ACP, overseeing execution across +28 countries, ensuring fair and competitive compensation structures. - Spearheaded One Workday, One Takeda initiative, harmonizing HR systems, workflows, and localization efforts to drive efficiency and accuracy. - Led the Global Band & Grading Project, collaborating with ICMEA and GEM HR teams, ensuring consistency in talent leveling and internal equity. Awards: - Leadership Takeda Values Award - Inspire Others Category FY22 - Leadership Takeda Values Award - Elevate Capabilities Category FY22 - GM Special Award - Focus Category FY21 - Value Award “Takeda Values” category FY21 - ICMEA Appreciation “Outstanding dedication & commitment” FY21 - GM Special Award FY20 - Value Award “Teamwork & Cooperation” category FY20 - Value Award “Portfolio & Scope of our business” category FY20 - ICMEA Appreciation “Outstanding dedication & commitment” FY20 - ICMEA “Growth Mindset” Award FY20
- Acted as trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing insights on organizational development, talent strategy, and HR best practices. - Led workforce planning, succession planning, and performance management strategies to ensure business continuity. - Designed and implemented leadership development programs, supporting employee career progression and capability-building. - Partnered with business units to drive employee engagement initiatives, improving retention and satisfaction. - Managed complex employee relations cases, including grievance resolution, restructuring, and conflict mediation. Key Achievements: - Designed and implemented an employee engagement roadmap, increasing engagement scores and organizational trust. - Successfully navigated organizational changes, minimizing disruption and enhancing workforce adaptability.
- Led complex workplace investigations, assembling cross-functional teams to gather evidence, conduct witness interviews, and assess case precedents, ensuring fair and legally compliant resolutions. - Provided leadership with actionable recommendations on corrective measures, disciplinary actions, risk mitigation strategies. - Championed organizational development and culture initiatives, aligning HR strategies with business growth objectives. - Led compensation and benefits planning, including country-wide salary benchmarking and incentives. - Designed and implemented a global payroll outsourcing strategy. - Developed and launched employee handbooks and compliance frameworks. - Acted as a key partner in regional talent acquisition and retention programs. - Lead, mentor, and develop the HR Services team, fostering a high-performance, agile, and customer-centric HR function. Key Achievements: Global & Regional Projects: - Spearheaded the Talent Acquisition (STA) initiative, including outsourcing recruitment activities. - Led the Payroll Outsourcing Process, optimizing payroll operations and ensuring standardization. - Directed the HR Next Generation project, overseeing the 1.5-year design and implementation of Workday and Service Now, transforming HR digital processes. - Managed the SEE onboarding & offboarding initiative, streamlining regional employee transitions. - Led the Data Validation and Compensation Tool implementation. Local Projects: - Designed, implemented Employee Handbook and SOPs, ensuring alignment with best HR practices and compliance standards. - Developed and implemented the SSI encouragement program, resulting in significant cost savings and optimized government incentives. - Successfully launched the Annual Leave Tracking Tool, improving HR efficiency and workforce scheduling accuracy. - Developed and launched FAQ and process booklets for various HR functions, recognized as a best practice success story by the CLT.
- Established and led the HR function from inception, implementing talent management, performance evaluation, and organizational development frameworks. - Developed and executed employee engagement strategies, enhancing retention and company culture. - Managed recruitment, training, succession planning, and compliance for both plant and corporate employees. - Managed internal communications and HR marketing initiatives. Key Achievements: - Successfully set up the HR department, gaining full acceptance from both management and employees. - Led organizational change efforts, hiring 20 new employees and overseeing 15 exits within 1.5 years, all managed internally without external support. - Designed and launched on-the-job training and job shadowing programs, fostering cross-functional learning and employee development. - Developed and rolled out a comprehensive induction program and Welcome Kit, improving onboarding efficiency and new hire experience. - Created and implemented a performance management process and incentive system, driving accountability and employee motivation. - Introduced the “Internal Trainer Champion” initiative, encouraging high-performing employees to become trainers, and launched the “Trainer of the Year” program to recognize excellence. - Built a centralized employee information database, ensuring data accuracy and streamlined HR processes. - Conducted a thorough HR policy review, developing SOPs with full management approval to enhance operational consistency. Special Projects: - Klüber Lubrication Turkey FY20 Strategy Team - ISO Integrated System Management - HR Section
Following the decision to close Bongrain Turkey’s operations, I was entrusted with leading the company closure process, ensuring a structured and legally compliant transition. Prior to this, I managed full-spectrum HR operations and strategic people initiatives to support business continuity. - Directed all HR functions for the factory, overseeing trade union relations, talent acquisition, workforce exits, performance management, employee engagement, and cultural development. - Served as a strategic advisor, ensuring compliance with employment laws and mitigating legal risks. - Led and developed a team of 11 HR and administrative professionals, optimizing daily HR operations. - Provided ongoing guidance to senior leadership, keeping them informed of critical HR trends, compliance updates, and workforce strategies. - Ensured adherence to quality management, health & safety regulations, environmental policies, and corporate legal obligations. - Maintained strong partnerships with government authorities and regulatory bodies, facilitating seamless operational transitions. Key Achievements: - Designed and executed a comprehensive company closure strategy, successfully managing the restructuring and workforce reduction of 200 FTE (white & blue-collar) within six months. - Personally led outplacement support initiatives, coaching displaced employees on resume building, interview preparation, and career transition strategies, ensuring a smooth reintegration into the job market.
Managed HR operations across Turkey and the Middle East, ensuring seamless alignment with corporate HR strategies. Focused on compensation & benefits, talent management, employee engagement, and global mobility, while driving operational excellence and compliance. - Led and facilitated BD University training programs across the ME, enhancing workforce development. - Managed compensation & benefits programs, including the Global Share Investment Program for Turkey, ensuring competitive and equitable pay structures. - Partnered with Hay Group to conduct benchmarking studies, ensuring competitiveness in the market. - Spearheaded the employee engagement survey process, coordinating CLT meetings, action planning, and follow-ups to enhance workplace culture. - Led the annual compensation cycle for Turkey, ensuring a smooth and timely execution aligned with global policies. - Collaborated with the IA team, managing end-to-end relocation services for IAs. - Oversaw performance management, succession planning, and talent development initiatives, fostering a high-performance culture. - Managed outsourced payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, monthly payroll cycle. Key Achievements: - Established the HR department from the ground up, earning full acceptance from leadership (CLT) and employees. - Designed and launched an extensive induction program and Welcome Kit across the Middle East region, improving onboarding efficiency. - Developed and introduced the “BudzEe” referral recruitment program, successfully enhancing talent acquisition efforts across the Middle East and Turkey. - Optimized health and life insurance coverage, achieving cost savings while enhancing employee benefits, strengthening the company’s competitive positioning. - Designed and implemented the Employee Handbook and SOPs, standardizing HR policies and processes. - Successfully outsourced payroll operations, ensuring a smooth transition with zero errors, improving efficiency and compliance.