I would like to announce that our Secretary General, Haluk Bal, who has been holding this position for more than 14 years since February 2005, will be retiring from the university by his own wish effective August 31st, 2019. Mr. Haluk Bal has played an extremely valuable and instrumental role during the critical growth period of our university. His stewardship and his experience have been absolutely essential in navigating the challenges that were managed successfully.
Mr. Bal has played an important role in improving the organizational and administrative structure of the University, and worked hard for making it a financially and operationally sustainable organization.
On the occasion of his retirement, we would like to thank him for many years of extraordinary service and we wish him a happy retirement.
Mr. Haluk Bal will be replaced by Mr. Rasim Karas effective September 1st, 2019. Rasim Karas graduated from Istanbul Technical University Industrial Engineering Department in 1990. From 1994 to 2000, he held various purchasing management roles at Frito-Lay Turkey and one year in Great Britain. In 2000, he joined Danone. From 2002 to 2011, he served as Danone Tikvesli Supply Chain Director. After 2011, he took the responsibility of Supply Chain Head at Vodafone, and in 2012 he assumed the role of General Manager of Vodafone Cyprus. In 2016, he became the General Manager of Vodafone Bilgi, responsible for customer operations of Vodafone.
Mr. Haluk Bal and Mr. Rasim Karas will be working together during a transition period of approximately 2 months to ensure a smooth hand-over of responsibilities.
I would like to welcome Mr. Karas to our university. It gives me great pleasure to extend my warmest congratulations to him on his appointment as Secretary General, and I wish him the best of success.
Yusuf Leblebici