Ahmet Bolat

Prof. Ahmet Bolat was born in 1959 in Konya, Turkey, and is recognized as a strategic leader in global aviation. He graduated from Istanbul Technical University in 1981 as an Industrial Engineer, followed by an M.Sc. in Operations Research from Stanford University (1984) and a Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan (1988).

Bolat began his career in 1981 as a Design and Production Engineer at Yıldız Kalıp Şirketi. Between 1985 and 1988, he held teaching and research roles at the University of Michigan, and from 1988 to 2005, he served as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor at the Industrial Engineering Department of King Saud University in Riyadh.

Career history

• Senior Vice President of Investment Management at Turkish Airlines Inc. (2005–2012)
• Chief Investment and Technology Officer at Turkish Airlines (2012–2022), responsible for Fleet Planning, Investment Management, International Relations & Alliances, and Innovation
• Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines (2022–2026)
• Board Member of SunExpress Airlines (joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa)
• Chairman of the Board of Turkish Technic (appointed 2022)
• Deputy Chairman of Turkish Aerospace Industry; Board Member of Turkish Cabin Interior Inc.

During his 17-year tenure at Turkish Airlines, Bolat managed the strategic growth plan and led the team that procured approximately 550 aircraft for the fleet. He was responsible for Government Affairs issues and commercial agreements with airline partners, and led the feasibility study for Turkish Airlines' alliance selection project. Bolat is widely regarded as a strategic leader focused on long-term growth, infrastructure investment, and strengthening the airline's global competitiveness.

What Bolat could bring to future roles: His expertise in large-scale fleet investment planning, international airline partnerships, and strategic growth management positions him as an invaluable asset for aviation, aerospace, or infrastructure-focused organizations seeking to expand global networks and optimize capital-intensive assets.