Mission
Finans Network is a global non-profit assosiation which aims to bring finance professionals together.

Objectives
§         To create a platform for sharing ideas and experiences
§         To contribute to the intellectual and professional development of Finans Network members
§         To coach and mentor new graduates entering into the professional life
§         To serve the public by enlightening them regarding the economic and financial agenda 

Events
§         Seminars, panels and conferences
§         Executive meetings
§         Professional gatherings
§         Team Building outdoor events 

Chapters
Group has chapters in New York, Istanbul, Washington DC, Ankara, Amsterdam, Dubai, Geneva, Izmir and Frankfurt.

Facts
§         80% of members hold a master or higher degree
§         The majority consists of mid-level managers (MD, SVP, VP, etc)
§         Members work at respectable global corporations such as Goldman Sachs, IMF, World Bank etc.
§         Number of members exceeds 2,000§         Events attract over 100 participants in average 

Membership Admissions
In order to be accepted as a member, candidates should have one of the following requirements:

§         hold a Master's/MBA or PhD degree
§         having published academic studies
§         being in the top percentile for graduating undergraduate
§         holding a significant management position
§         being a successful entrepreneur etc 

Recent Executive Meetings

§         Henry Azzam -CEO , Deutsche Bank MENA
§         Dan Glaser - CEO , Marsh
§         John D'Agostino - CEO , Dagger LLC
§         Vicki Tillman - Executive Vice President, Standard & Poor's

Past Seminars and Panels

Speakers
Omer Gundogdu                   : VP – Mortgage Trader, Lehman Brothers
Yalman Onaran                     : Reporter, Bloomberg
Otto V. Hemert, PhD            : Assistant Professor, NYU – Stern Business School
Serhan Secmen                     : Moderator, CDO Trader, Lehman Brothers

Finans Network non-profit projects can be summarized as following items in 2009:

• to launch Finans Network chapters in Amsterdam and Frankfurt and bring finance professionals together in these cities. Volunteers in these cities are welcome to join our global team
  
• to work on Turkish Finance Academy in New York and Istanbul
  
• Outlook of Job markets, future of the banking Industry, regulations in financial sectors are among the events that we are already working on.
  
• to coordinate mentorship and internship programs in New York, and other US cities and London.
  

As an organization that rises solely on teamwork, our success is a product of positive and strong leadership, and constant support of group members. Finans Network encourages members to share their ideas, projects, plans... While all ideas are highly valued, Finans Network is committed to support our members giving life to their own projects.

Serdar Kaya –Istanbul Chapter
Finans Network - President
Serdar Kaya, the President of Finans Network, joined Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) in 2006. At Marsh, Mr. Kaya is responsible from global clients as well as global research and analysis.  Prior to joining the MMC, Mr. Kaya held a position in Johns Hopkins School of Public Health as the system and network administrator. His previous experience includes his work in Istanbul, two years at Garanti Bank’s head quarters. Mr. Kaya  has an MS in Finance from Johns Hopkins University, a B.S. with highest distinction from Istanbul University. He currently publishes papers on derivative markets, subprime crises and credit crunch, and has given interviews to Forbes, Ekomist, SkyTurk TV, HaberTurk TV and many well known columnists in Turkish Media. 

Seref  Turkmenoglu – New York Chapter
Senior Analyst, National Grid 
Seref Turkmenoglu, a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), is currently holding Senior Analyst position at National Grid where he is responsible for Cash Flow, Balance Sheet Forecast and Business Planning of the US Segment of the Company. Before joining to National Grid at 2009, he was previously the Finance Director of Grif Management and had been employed by the Company since 2005 in various financial capacities, where he had been responsible for domestic and international financial reporting, systems, and controls, as well as forecasting and cash management.   He had been instrumental in executing numerous M & A transactions, including the sale, merger and liquidation of foreign subsidiaries and various forms of financing, including letter of credit transactions and securing Ex-Im financing.  Previously, he provided financial consulting services to such clients as Deutsche Bank, Thompson Financial, Reuters and Raymond James.   SerefTurkmenoglu earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Istanbul Technical University and Masters of Business Administration from Troy University, where he was honored with The Chancellor’s Award in recognition of scholarly achievement.  He is currently pursuing a MS degree in Management at New York University. He has lectured for the CMA curriculum at St. Joseph’s College in New York.

Tugba Temurcan – New York Chapter
Graduate Student in Human Resources Management, NYU 
Tugba Temurcan is currently a graduate student at NYU pursuing her M.S. degree in Human Resources Management and Development. Previously, she has 6 years of experience in Human Resources, employee relations, performance management and recruitment for Financial, Technology and Entertainment companies.  Ms. Temurcan earned a Bachelor of Art in International Public Administration in 2005 from CUNY John Jay College. 

Eren Tufekci – New York Chapter
PhD Candidate, Department of Economics at New York University
Eren Tufekci is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Economics at New York University, where he has taught finance and economics for the past 5 years in both graduate and undergraduate levels. Empirical asset pricing and behavioral finance are among his research interests, and his publications are in progress.  Previously Mr. Tufekci worked at Permal Asset Management where he has conducted a study on hedge fund performances, and at Iktisat Investment where he has assessed and quantified risk as an investment strategist.  Mr. Tufekci holds a joint bachelor's degree from both London School of Economics and Istanbul Bilgi University and a master's degree from New York University. 

Engin Ikiz – New York Chapter
President, Istanbul Corporation 
Engin Ikiz is the President of Istanbul Corporation, an international trade and consulting company. In the aerospace and defense industry Mr. Ikiz is a management assistant, as well as a new investment assistant. He is an international entrepreneur conducting import and export trades. He develops strategic relationships among international companies and designs plans for small business startups.  Mr. Ikiz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Erciyes University in 2003, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Dowling College in 2005, and a certificate program in Aviation Management in 2008.

Serhad Ozturk – Istanbul Chapter
Business Development Specialist, Anadolu Group 
Serhad Ozturk is currently the Business Development Specialist in Anadolu Group. He is responsible for searching, evaluating and developing new business opportunities, preparing financial models and industry profiles for valuation and feasibility studies. Previously, he worked as a consultant in the area of Financial Risk Services and Enterprise Risk Management.  Mr. Ozturk earned a BS degree in Industrial Engineering from Anadolu University in 2006 and MSc degree in Management Engineering from Istanbul Technical University in 2009.

Cigdem Karabulut – Istanbul Chapter
Reinsurance Specialist, UIB Turkey 
Cigdem Karabulut, is currently the Reinsurance Specialist at UIB Turkey since November of 2007 and before this company worked at Marsh Turkey for four years. At UIB Turkey she gives services the clients’ request for reinsurance side and processes the relationship between the insurance companies and UIB Turkey.  She has graduated from Istanbul University Business Administration Faculty at the year of 2001. She is also an active member of GESID (Genc Sigortacilar Dernegi) and JCI (Junior Champier Institutions).

Selcuk Batmaz – Ankara Chapter
Branch Manager, Akbank
Selçuk Batmaz works for Akbank in Ankara, as a branch manager in retail banking for the past four years. Abroad, Akbank is mostly known for the strategic partnership with Citigroup in Turkey. His experience in the past 12 years at Akbank includes auditing and assistance of Regional Management.  Mr. Batmaz graduated from Hacettepe University Economics Department in 1994, and he is a graduate student in Gazi University for Masters in Banking.

Emin Akkan – Amsterdam Chapter
Relationship Manager at Trade and Commodity Finance, Garantibank International 
Emin Akkan has been working as Relationship Manager at Trade and Commodity Finance of Garantibank International NV (GBI), Amsterdam since 2007. His current position brings him to focus on international trade of soft commodities.  Mr. Akkan started his career in 2004 at Yapi Kredi Bank (YKB), Istanbul in Corporate Banking division then continued with GBI.  He has BS degree with honor from Business Administration of Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara. Additionally, he received minor degree from Sociology of the same university. He is responsible for the establishment of Turkish Finans Network, Amsterdam chapter.

Mehmet Gencer Mola – Amsterdam Chapter
European Index Options Trader, Optiver Amsterdam  Mehmet Gencer Mola has joined Optiver Amsterdam in 2007. He is a trader/market-maker for European index options. Before joining Optiver, Mr. Mola worked as a FX&Precious Metals Futures dealer in Destek Finans Istanbul for two years.  Mr. Mola graduated from Bogazici University Economics department.