Turkey's Top CHROs for 2025 Revealed! You Won't Believe Who Made the List!

Istanbul was buzzing last night as the "Enchanted Gala Nights" kicked off with a dazzling ceremony honoring Türkiye's top Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs). The event marked the beginning of the fifth annual Golden Leader Awards, an initiative launched back in 2021 by KREA M.I.C.E., a prominent meeting and event company.

Turkey's Top CHROs for 2025 Revealed! You Won't Be...

This year's Golden Leader Awards have clearly struck a chord, pulling in a record-breaking 85,212 unique votes. That's a significant jump and speaks volumes about the growing recognition of leadership and talent management in the Turkish business landscape. These awards, entirely determined by votes from the business community itself, aim to spotlight the Top 50 CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, and CHROs who made a real impact in 2025. I think it's fantastic that it's a peer-driven selection; it adds a layer of authenticity.

The first ceremony, which took place last night, was dedicated to celebrating Türkiye's Top 50 CHROs. We're talking about the folks who really shape company culture, navigate complex employee relations, and build strong teams – the unsung heroes, in many respects. These are the people building the kind of workplaces that attract and retain talent, which is absolutely critical in today's competitive market.

Several CHROs from leading companies across key sectors – automotive, energy, and transportation – were recognized for their outstanding contributions. Among those honored were Ahmet Aksoy from TOGG (Türkiye's Automobile Joint Venture Group), recognized for his role as Human Resources and Culture Director, and Ayşegül Gürkale from ENERJİSA ÜRETİM, who holds a dual role as COO & CHRO. Berrin Yılmaz from ENERJİSA ENERJİ, and Ceren Ertem Çimen from TÜRK TRAKTÖR, were also among the award recipients. Esra Ölmez Türegün from ÇETAŞ OTOMOTİV was also acknowledged for her efforts as Talent and Culture General Manager. I recognize many of these names as being truly innovative in their fields.

The list of honorees continues with Nursel Ölmez Ateş from BORUSAN HOLDİNG, who serves as Human Resources, Communications, and Sustainability Group President, showcasing a modern approach to the CHRO role. Nurullah Çalışır from İDO (Istanbul Sea Buses), Orçun Sarıca from TOFAŞ, Serpil Köşker from SABİHA GÖKÇEN Airport, Şengül Atalay from ARKAS HOLDİNG, and Tolga Görgülü from RENAULT GROUP were also among the celebrated leaders. Orçun Sarıca from TOFAŞ leads Human Resources and Industrial Relations.

The Golden Leader Awards continue this week, recognizing top leaders across other key functional areas. The entire event is scheduled to run from February 9th to 12th, 2026, promising several more evenings of celebration and recognition of excellence in Turkish business leadership. It's clear the awards have become a significant event on the Turkish business calendar, and I, for one, am looking forward to seeing who else is recognized this week.