Yahya Ülker graduated from Koç University with a degree in Business Administration in 2016. Following his university education, he worked at various organizations in London and Switzerland, gaining experience in banking and biscuit manufacturing.
Ülker began his career at Yıldız Holding in 2018, joining Northstar Innovation, the Holding’s innovation company. During this period, he played an active role in implementing innovation projects designed as investments in the Holding’s future, with a particular focus on university-industry collaborations.
Since 2019, as the founder of Yıldız Ventures, he has led the establishment of the Holding’s business unit focused on venture incubation and venture capital investments. Through investments primarily in external startups, he leads teams that support the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
He has also held leadership roles in sales operations and e-commerce at ŞOK Marketler, one of Türkiye’s leading retail companies, successfully completing his responsibilities in these areas.
Yahya Ülker currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board and Transformation & Technology Leader at Yıldız Holding. He also serves as Executive Board Member at Continental Confectionery Company, Yıldız Holding’s global gum and confectionery company.
In 2026, Ülker was appointed Managing Director, Europe at pladis, Yıldız Holding’s global snacking company. In this role, he leads pladis’ European business, working closely with country leaders and regional functions to prioritize growth opportunities and drive initiatives aimed at strengthening efficiency and performance.
Ülker is also a member of TÜSİAD, DEİK Digital Technologies, Yeni Bir Lider Derneği and Q Angels. He contributes to the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a startup mentor at Endeavor Türkiye and supports science- and society-focused initiatives as Chair of the Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation.
Yahya Ülker graduated from Koç University with a degree in Business Administration in 2016. Following his university education, he worked at various organizations in London and Switzerland, gaining experience in banking and biscuit manufacturing.
Ülker began his career at Yıldız Holding in 2018, joining Northstar Innovation, the Holding’s innovation company. During this period, he played an active role in implementing innovation projects designed as investments in the Holding’s future, with a particular focus on university-industry collaborations.
Since 2019, as the founder of Yıldız Ventures, he has led the establishment of the Holding’s business unit focused on venture incubation and venture capital investments. Through investments primarily in external startups, he leads teams that support the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
He has also held leadership roles in sales operations and e-commerce at ŞOK Marketler, one of Türkiye’s leading retail companies, successfully completing his responsibilities in these areas.
Yahya Ülker currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board and Transformation & Technology Leader at Yıldız Holding. He also serves as Executive Board Member at Continental Confectionery Company, Yıldız Holding’s global gum and confectionery company.
In 2026, Ülker was appointed Managing Director, Europe at pladis, Yıldız Holding’s global snacking company. In this role, he leads pladis’ European business, working closely with country leaders and regional functions to prioritize growth opportunities and drive initiatives aimed at strengthening efficiency and performance.
Ülker is also a member of TÜSİAD, DEİK Digital Technologies, Yeni Bir Lider Derneği and Q Angels. He contributes to the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a startup mentor at Endeavor Türkiye and supports science- and society-focused initiatives as Chair of the Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation.
Dr. Talat İÇÖZ is a Business Manager, Businessman, Non-Governmental Organization Manager, and Politician, who served as the 18th Term Istanbul Member of Parliament.
He is a graduate of Izmir Maarif College (Bornova Anatolian High School) and the Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Department of Business Administration. He completed his Master's degree in City and Regional Planning at the same university's Faculty of Architecture. He earned his Ph.D. in Banking from Istanbul Commerce University.
From 1972 to 1977, he served as the Investment and Project Manager at Ercan Holding (under the General Coordinatorship of the late Yusuf Özal). In this role, he managed the feasibility studies for the MAN and Mahle Piston İstanbul Segman Sanayi investment projects. Between 1977 and 1979, he was the Deputy General Manager at the BurTrak Tractor Factory (with Turgut Özal as the Chairman of the Board).
From 1979 to 1980, he was the Deputy General Manager at the ISMAK Forklift Factory. From 1983 to 1991, he served as the General Manager and Vice Chairman of the Board at ÖZBA Petrol Foreign Trade Company (with Korkut Özal as the Chairman of the Board). He was a Member of the Board of Directors at Albaraka Türk Participation Bank from 1984 to 1987. Between 1988 and 1991, he was a founding partner of Çarşı Securities, which for a period, was the leader in transaction volume on the Istanbul Stock Exchange.
He served as an Advisor to the Executive Committee of Yıldız Holding from 2003 to 2010. He was a Member of the Board of Directors at BIM from 2012 to 2018, a Member of the Board of Directors at Kerevitaş from 2012 to 2018, and a Member of the Board of Directors at M.T.E. from 2012 to 2018. Since 2011, he has been a Lecturer at Bilgi University. He has also taught M.B.A. courses at Istanbul Commerce University and Şehir University.
In his social life, he is a Founder and Member of the Board of Trustees of the Aziz Mahmut Hüdayi Foundation and a Founding Member of Tükçev (Consumer and Environmental Protection Foundation). He served as the Chairman of the Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation from 2017 to 2025 and currently continues his role as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Murat Ülker was born in 1959. He graduated from the Management Department of the School of Administrative Sciences at Boğaziçi University, Istanbul.
Mr Ülker studied sector-specific subjects at international schools such as the American Institute of Baking (AIB) and Zentralfachschule der Deutschen Süßwarenwirtschaft (ZDS), serving an internship at American company Continental Baking. In three years, he visited nearly 60 biscuit, chocolate and food factories in the United States and Europe. He also worked on various projects for the International Executive Service Corps (IESC).
Mr Ülker joined Yıldız Holding in 1984 as a Control Coordinator. Over the following years he assumed the roles of Assistant General Manager, and then General Director. As a member of the Executive Committee and a Board Member of various companies in the group, he led a series of cornerstone investments.
In 2000, Mr Ülker became Chairman of the Executive Committee, serving as Chairman for eight years. In 2008 he became Chairman of the Board of Directors. As of January 29, 2020, Mr Ülker continues to take an active role in companies affiliated to the Holding as a Member of the Board, and his role as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at pladis. He is the Board Member at the Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation.
Mr Ülker is known for his interest in modern art and Islamic calligraphy. He enjoys sailing and travelling with his wife and three children.
Ahsen Ülker Özokur, the eldest child of the late Sabri Ülker, the founder of Ülker, was born in 1950 in Istanbul. She graduated from the Istanbul Girls’ Institute.
Married to Orhan Özokur, Ahsen Ülker Özokur is a mother of three sons: Ali Ülker, Ömer Özokur, and Ahmet Özokur. She is the elder sister of Murat Ülker, one of the major shareholders of Yıldız Holding.
She serves as the Chair of the Board of Melisa Danışmanlık ve Yönetim A.Ş., which holds shares in Yıldız Holding A.Ş., one of Türkiye’s leading food and snack companies. Yıldız Holding possesses numerous subsidiaries operating both in Türkiye and abroad.
Although she does not take an active role in operational business management, Ahsen Ülker Özokur supports the activities of non-governmental organizations. She enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, and exploring different cultures.
Ahsen Ülker Özokur, the eldest child of the late Sabri Ülker, the founder of Ülker, was born in 1950 in Istanbul. She graduated from the Istanbul Girls' Institute.
Married to Orhan Özokur, Ahsen Ülker Özokur is a mother of three sons: Ali Ülker, Ömer Özokur, and Ahmet Özokur. She is the elder sister of Murat Ülker, one of the major shareholders of Yıldız Holding.
She serves as the Chair of the Board of Melisa Danışmanlık ve Yönetim A.Ş., which holds shares in Yıldız Holding A.Ş., one of Türkiye's leading food and snack companies. Yıldız Holding possesses numerous subsidiaries operating both in Türkiye and abroad.
Although she does not take an active role in operational business management, Ahsen Ülker Özokur supports the activities of non-governmental organizations. She enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, and exploring different cultures.
Ahmet Özokur was born in 1980 and completed his higher education at Indiana University, majoring in Business and Marketing. He subsequently pursued further education at INSEAD, IMD, and London Business School, focusing on international finance, marketing, management sciences, corporate finance, and governance in family businesses.
He began his career in 2004 at Datateknik and Hızlı Sistem A.Ş. and later led the establishment of the Yıldız Holding Real Estate Group. During this period, he managed the development and construction projects of the Ülker Sports and Event Hall, Akasya Shopping Mall, Levent Loft, Starcity, and Marintürk marinas.
In the following years, Ahmet Özokur held several key leadership roles within Yıldız Holding, serving as Vice President of the Food Group, CEO of Ülker Chocolate, and President of Global Synergy. Since 2023, he has been serving as the Chairman of the Board of Clarastra A.Ş.
A shareholder of Yıldız Holding A.Ş., Ahmet Özokur is also a member of the International Federation of Family Offices (IFFO) and the UK Angel Investment Network (UK-AIN).
Born in 1965, İbrahim Taşkın had his elementary school education in Trabzon and Artvin, completed high school in İstanbul, then graduated from İstanbul University Faculty of Law in 1986.
A founding member of the 2nd İstanbul Bar Association, Mr. Taşkın began his professional career in 1989 as a self-employed lawyer. As of 2024, he has completed his 35th year in the legal profession. Since the early 1990s, he has also been involved in academic work, teaching Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Disciplinary Law, and Police Legislation for four years at the Florya Police Training Center under the Turkish National Police.
In addition to his professional and academic experience, he held senior-level positions in politics between 1996 and 2004.
Mr. Taşkın also places great importance on civil society and has served as a founder and executive in numerous NGOs. Among the foundations and associations where he has served as a founding or general assembly member are: Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation, Ülker Members Association, Consumer and Environment Education Foundation, Deniz Feneri Association, İstanbul Children’s Foundation, Foundation for the Expansion of Knowledge, and Board of Trustees of Sabahattin Zaim University.
In addition to being a Board Member of Yıldız Holding, he also serves on the boards of several group companies. He is a Council Member of the İstanbul Chamber of Industry and a member of MÜSİAD (Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association).
Since joining Yıldız Holding in 2004, Mr. Taşkın has held the positions of Legal Advisor, General Manager of Legal Affairs, and since 2016, Global Head of Legal Affairs. In addition to this role, he also chairs or participates in several global committees including the Ethics and Integrity Board, Food Safety Board, Public Affairs, and Corporate Transactions. He is also responsible for coordinating the Holding’s relations with civil society organizations and universities. He is the Board Member of the Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation.
Mr. Taşkın has a good command of English. He is married with 4 children.
Meryem Ülker Küçükaşcı was born in Istanbul in 1998. In 2016, she graduated from Istanbul City University with a major in Sociology and a minor in Political Science and International Relations. In addition, she completed her master’s degree in African Studies at Ankara University of Social Sciences in 2020. In 2022, she enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Political Science and International Relations at Medipol University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D.
Furthermore, while continuing her research on the Middle East and North Africa, she completed internships at the Strategic Research Center of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2018 and at the Sharq Forum in 2022. She is also fluent in English and Arabic.
Meryem Ülker Küçükaşcı was born in Istanbul in 1998. In 2016, she graduated from Istanbul City University with a major in Sociology and a minor in Political Science and International Relations. In addition, she completed her master’s degree in African Studies at Ankara University of Social Sciences in 2020. In 2022, she enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Political Science and International Relations at Medipol University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D.
Furthermore, while continuing her research on the Middle East and North Africa, she completed internships at the Strategic Research Center of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2018 and at the Sharq Forum in 2022. She is also fluent in English and Arabic.
Born in İstanbul, İbrahim Ülker is a third-generation representative of the family, as the grandson of the late Sabri Ülker, the founder of the Ülker brand, and the son of Ali Ülker.
İbrahim Ülker received his education at Koç University. Having gained extensive experience by taking on various roles within Yıldız Holding throughout his professional life, Ülker currently serves as a board member for several companies within the group. In addition to his responsibilities in the family businesses, he has also launched his own venture as the founder of the coffee brand Venado.Closely interested in sports, İbrahim Ülker also enjoys traveling and exploring different cultures.
Begüm Mutuş has been involved with the Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation since its establishment and has played an active role in advancing the Foundation’s science-based initiatives in public health and nutrition. She currently serves as the General Manager of Global Public Affairs at Yıldız Holding and, as the Ambassador of the Women’s Platform, leads the company’s corporate philanthropy and societal impact vision.
In addition to her corporate responsibilities, Mutuş places strong emphasis on civil society engagement and serves as a Board Member of the Turkish Education Volunteers Foundation (TEGV), contributing to creating social impact in the field of education.
Born in Beylerbeyi, Istanbul in 1954. A graduate of Sultan Ahmet Trade High School, he began his professional career at a young age working alongside his father.
In 1984, he founded his own business, Mima Gıda. In 2020, he established İmaj Ambalaj A.Ş.
He currently continues his business life as the Chairman of the Board at Aktif Holding, Mima Tarım A.Ş., and Otomim Otomotiv A.Ş., and as a Member of the Board at İmaj Ambalaj A.Ş.
Additionally, he serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for Fenerbahçe Futbol A.Ş. and Fenerium A.Ş.
He is married and has one child. His hobbies include football, classic cars, and traveling.
Born in Beylerbeyi, Istanbul in 1954. A graduate of Sultan Ahmet Trade High School, he began his professional career at a young age working alongside his father.
In 1984, he founded his own business, Mima Gıda. In 2020, he established İmaj Ambalaj A.Ş.
He currently continues his business life as the Chairman of the Board at Aktif Holding, Mima Tarım A.Ş., and Otomim Otomotiv A.Ş., and as a Member of the Board at İmaj Ambalaj A.Ş.
Additionally, he serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for Fenerbahçe Futbol A.Ş. and Fenerium A.Ş.
He is married and has one child. His hobbies include football, classic cars, and traveling.
Born in 1959 in Kemaliye, Erzincan, Dr. Mehmet Köse is a graduate of Istanbul High School (Istanbul Erkek Lisesi) and Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine.
Following his compulsory medical service, he worked at the Emergency Department of Şişli Etfal Hospital. He joined Yıldız Holding in 1990, where he served as a founding board member for companies operating in Training and Human Resources, field marketing/staffing services, Food Laboratory, Quality, Food Safety, and Auditing.
As of 2007, he led the establishment of the Holding’s Food Safety and Consumer Sensitivities Board, where he continues to serve as a member. He also served on the Board of Directors of Yıldız Holding for a period.
Dr. Köse has been a member of the board of trustees at various foundation universities. He is a founder or member of several non-governmental organizations, including the Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation, Hayat Health and Social Services Foundation, Turkish National Culture Foundation, İlim Yayma Foundation, Foundation for Sciences and Arts, and the Consumer and Environmental Protection Foundation.
He is married and is a father of three.
Born in 1959 in Kemaliye, Erzincan, Dr. Mehmet Köse is a graduate of Istanbul High School (Istanbul Erkek Lisesi) and Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine.
Following his compulsory medical service, he worked at the Emergency Department of Şişli Etfal Hospital. He joined Yıldız Holding in 1990, where he served as a founding board member for companies operating in Training and Human Resources, field marketing/staffing services, Food Laboratory, Quality, Food Safety, and Auditing.
As of 2007, he led the establishment of the Holding’s Food Safety and Consumer Sensitivities Board, where he continues to serve as a member. He also served on the Board of Directors of Yıldız Holding for a period.
Dr. Köse has been a member of the board of trustees at various foundation universities. He is a founder or member of several non-governmental organizations, including the Sabri Ülker Food Research Institute Foundation, Hayat Health and Social Services Foundation, Turkish National Culture Foundation, İlim Yayma Foundation, Foundation for Sciences and Arts, and the Consumer and Environmental Protection Foundation.
He is married and is a father of three.
