Indications were made a couple of months ago, that a change would happen at the head of Turkish Airlines Cargo. This was then officially announced on 29DEC23: Turhan Özen who had successfully led the airline’s cargo fraction since 07OCT16, as its Chief Cargo Officer, has opted to leave the airline on his own volition, stating on LinkedIn that 7 years was a long time to hold the same position and that it was time to ‘hand over the flag’. He stepped down on 01JAN24, handing that flag over to Ali Türk. Summarizing his achievements, which included a significant cargo revenue and global market share increase, the development and inauguration of SmartIST in 2022, and firmly establishing Turkish Cargo within the industry, he wrote on LinkedIn: “Turkish Cargo is now recognized in the world as one of the fastest growing and most successful cargo brands, reaching the level of success that its main brand has achieved in other areas of aviation. In 2023, as promised, it rose to 5th place in the world with a market share of 5.3%. Today, I am proud to have worked at Turkish Airlines, which was founded 90 years ago with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s motto ‘The future is in the skies’ and has become Turkey’s most valuable and successful institution over the years. Thus, I enter the year 2024 with peace and joy, pride, and happiness. I wish this peace and pride to everyone who produces value by making efforts and strives in similar ways…”
Ali Türk has a strong logistics and supply chain background since 1999, working for companies such as Başak Hayat Insurance, Ülker Group of Companies, and Ceva Logistics. He joined Turkish Airlines in 2011, becoming Head of Cargo in 2012. Between 2016 and 2023, he held positions at Turkcell, latterly that of Deputy General Manager of Supply Chain Management, where his responsibilities included procurement, logistics, leasing, contract data management, transition rights, construction, and real estate processes.
Turkish Airlines also communicated further organizational changes: Its Chief Commercial Officer, Kerem Sarp has become General Manager of Ajet Air Transport A.Ş., and his previous position is now called Chief Operational Officer, and is held by Mehmet Akif Konar. Konar also joins the airline from Turkcell, where he latterly held the position of Deputy General Manager in charge of Strategy.