Innova
Meet Our Experts
INNOVA’s Strength Lies in Its Team of Experts
With their innovative vision and extensive experience, our consultants are your trusted guides on your journey to success.
Cemil Çınar
Founder / CEO
Melis Altuğ Akdeğirmen
Director of Operational Excellence
Burak Ulaş
Director of Training and Development
Sena Çizmecioğlu
Operational Excellence Specialist
Sevtap Karataş
Training and Development Specialist
Tılsım Demirdöken
Industry Consultant
Assistant Professor Betül Ayça, Ph.D.
Academic Advisor
Özer Özgüven
Industry Consultant
Dilşan İyem
Academic Advisor
Sinan Karacan
Academic Advisor
Associate Professor Dr. Mustafa Sundu
Academic AdvisorJoin our team: We're looking for talented team members for exciting and rewarding opportunities.
Apply Now!Cemil Çınar - Founder / CEO
Specialization
Senior Value Chain Consultant | Lean & Agile and Digital Transformation Strategist | Storyteller | Trainer | Author
About
Cemil Çınar was born in Istanbul and, after earning a bachelor’s degree in economics, completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Bahçeşehir University. In his master’s thesis, he examined “The Moderating Effect of Transformational Leadership Behaviors on Trends in Team Perception.” At the Graduate School of Bahçeşehir University, Efficiency Management in Businesses, Industry 4.0 Digital Transformation, Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chains, and Storytelling in Organizations teaches his classes.
In professional life; Over 30 Years of Supply Chain and Management Experience has experience in this field. Many He has contributed to and created value through project processes in Supply Chain, Logistics, Procurement, Lean and Digital Transformation, and Sustainability. Cemil Çınar, who has held senior management positions at multinational corporations (Chr. Hansen, PepsiCo, Bosch-Siemens), participates as a speaker at Supply Chain and Technology Conferences. Lean 6 Sigma Black Belt Çınar, the owner of the company, won first place in the Innovation and Change category in Europe in 2013 for a project he managed using the Lean Philosophy. He also serves on the Founding Board of Directors of the Strategic Procurement Association (SSDER) and on the Board of Directors of the Supply Chain Association (TEDAR). He actively contributes to the development of the procurement profession and his colleagues through his work at SSDER and TEDAR. IAF-Certified Life Coach and Training Coach He possesses these competencies. Since 2019, Çınar has continued to serve as CEO of İNNOVA Corporate Training and Consulting, his own startup.
Main Areas of Expertise: Supply Chain Management, Logistics Operations Management, Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), Procurement Strategies, Lean Processes, Sustainability and Green Supply Chain, Digitalization, and Industry 4.0, Project Management, Strategic Leadership, Communication, Human Resources Management, Executive Coaching, She works as an instructor and consultant in the field of educational coaching. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Arts and Gastronomy program, a field she enjoys. She is currently pursuing a degree in Philosophy. Published in May 2021, He is the author of the book *Storytelling: ‘Think Differently, Tell It Differently.’*.
A. Erkan Sökmen - General Manager
Specialization
Senior Procurement and Supply Chain Consultant | Change Management & Transformation Leader | Management and Organization | Mentor
About
Erkan Sökmen was born in Ankara and graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Middle East Technical University. For more than thirty years, in procurement and leadership roles with experience and Mondelēz International, TOYOTA, HONDA, etc. very in international organizations By spearheading strategic initiatives, she has consistently supported operational excellence and fostered collaborative relationships. As the Head of Procurement Operations for Mondelēz International Turkey, she managed the seamless transition of operations during the restructuring process following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, leading large teams composed of people from diverse nationalities and cultures to oversee all procurement activities throughout these processes. Additionally, Chipita-Mondelēz Turkey His active role in the acquisition and integration process has contributed to the development of his strategic vision.
Prior to that, in various industries (CEVA Logistics, DANONE, Honda of the UK Manufacturing, HONDA Turkey and TOYOTA) He has held key roles such as country procurement manager, logistics procurement manager, and supplier development manager, and has demonstrated strong executive performance in managing budgets worth millions of dollars, implementing procurement strategies, and optimizing supply chains. His extensive experience in procurement, project management and in the areas of leadership has supported this with a series of specialized training programs. Beyond his professional endeavors, he embodies a commitment to continuous learning and social engagement, while actively contributing to industry associations in his role as Vice President of the Strategic Procurement Association.
Main Areas of Expertise: Procurement Strategies, Procurement & Import Operations, STP (Source-to-Pay) Process Consulting, Project Management, Strategic Leadership and Development Programs, Corporate Contact, Public Relations, Active Mentoring, in the field of Organizational Design instructor and consulting is doing.
Melis Altuğ Akdeğirmen - Director of Operational Excellence
Specialization
Operational Excellence | Marketing Communications | Customer Experience
About
Melis ALTUĞ AKDEĞİRMEN was born in Istanbul and, after earning a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising, He earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Bahçeşehir University. In his master’s thesis, he examined “The Mediating Role of Customer Satisfaction in the Effect of Customer Experience on Customer Loyalty from an Experiential Marketing Perspective.” Her work is featured in the academic publication *Empirical Results of Economic, Monetary, and Financial Applications*, published by Gazi Kitapevi in April 2021. The "Brand Communication and Strategic Brand Management" course at Bahçeşehir University's Graduate School provides.
ALTUĞ AKDEĞİRMEN began his professional career at Mynet and subsequently worked at multinational corporations (CND, Apple Inc., DHL Express) He has held various positions. He also serves as a member of the Strategic Procurement Association (SSDER) Education and Professional Publications Committee and the Corporate Communications/Media Committee. ALTUĞ AKDEĞİRMEN has been serving as Director of Operational Excellence at İNNOVA Corporate Training and Consulting since 2019.
Main Areas of Expertise: Supply Chain Management, Operational Excellence, Logistics Operations Management, Sales Strategies (B2B-B2C-H2H), Procurement Strategies, Lean Processes, Digital Transformation, and Industry 4.0, Project Management, Communication, Marketing Communication, Social Media He works as an instructor and consultant in this field.
Burak Ulaş - Director of Training and Development
Specialization
Supply Chain and Logistics Management | Executive Training Design | Process Improvement and Development | System Implementation | Cost Reduction
About
Burak Ulaş was born in Izmir and earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Ege University, followed by a master’s degree in procurement and logistics management from Istanbul Technical University and a master’s degree in business administration from Maltepe University.
A dynamic and results-driven Management Consultant and Senior Supply Chain Leader with over 20 years of extensive experience in end-to-end supply chain management across the retail, FMCG, B2B, and B2C sectors. He has led transformation projects, process optimization initiatives, and organizational development programs at global companies operating in the Americas, Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. He has strong expertise in Learning and Development, training design, and talent development; he has designed and implemented comprehensive supply chain leadership and operational excellence programs within multinational organizations.
He has been a member of the Logistics Association (LODER) since 2015 and has served on the Disciplinary Committee and the Audit Committee at various times.
He has served as an international referee for the Turkish Tennis Federation since 2018.
In 2019, he was honored with an award after being selected as one of Turkey’s Most Influential Supply Chain Professionals.
Since 2021, he has been teaching courses on Supply Chain Management and Smart Supply Chain Technologies to students in the Master’s Program in International Trade and Logistics at Beykoz University. He is also a member of the university’s Logistics Advisory Board.
Since 2023, he has been working as a Senior Consultant in the areas of Supply Chain & Logistics Management Consulting, Management Consulting, and Executive Training Design.
Main Areas of Work
End-to-End Project-Based Consulting, Supply Chain Optimization, Strategic Planning and Growth, Operational Efficiency and Process Improvement, Financial Management and Profitability Analysis, Technology and Digital Transformation, Data- and KPI-Driven Management, Organizational Culture and Leadership Development
Sena Çizmecioğlu - Operational Excellence Specialist
Specialization
Operational Excellence | SAP Applications | Process Improvement
About
Sena Çizmecioğlu, Celal Bayar University, Industrial Engineering graduated from that department. Çizmecioğlu, who has steered his career with a focus on operational efficiency and system integration, SAP Turkey & Coca-Cola Beverages He served as a Project Assistant on the “CCI S/4 HANA Migration Project” carried out within the organization. It ensures coordination during the testing, trial, and go-live phases of this project; Jira and ALM systems It manages stakeholder relations through action tracking.
Previously served as a Process Improvement Engineer at Polat Makina; In the SAP PP, MM, QM, and PM modules has successfully managed the requirements analysis, user testing, and system deployment processes. During his professional development Tirsan Kardan‘In Kanban and 5S projects, Imperial Tobacco‘In LOTOTO procedures and risk assessments, Pınar Milk‘There, he gained experience in purchasing and planning processes".
Çizmecioğlu, who has an advanced knowledge of English; SAP, PowerBI, MATLAB and SolidWorks has specialized in developing data-driven solutions and optimizing operational processes using technical tools such as.
Sevtap Karataş – Education and Development Specialist
Specialization
Training and Development | Communication Strategies | Information and Document Management | Process Improvement
About
Sevtap Karataş holds a bachelor’s degree in Information and Records Management from Istanbul University and completed a double major in Geography at the same university. She also has a teaching certificate. She is currently pursuing her academic studies in the thesis-based master’s program in Communication at Bahçeşehir University.
Karataş, who has shaped his career with a focus on communication, information management, and process development, is actively working to improve his skills—particularly in his current role—in the areas of operational process improvement, optimizing access to information, and enhancing the user experience. By keeping abreast of current approaches, he aims to continuously advance his competencies at both the academic and practical levels.
During her professional career, she served as an Information and Document Management Specialist at Doğuş University and Bahçeşehir University, where she effectively managed cataloging, classification, and indexing processes in library systems. By analyzing user needs, he developed solutions that facilitated access to information and contributed to increased operational efficiency.
Early in his career, he gained experience in archiving, content editing, and data classification processes in the media industry through a news archive internship at ATV.
Combining his academic expertise in the field of communication with his experience in information management, Karataş is developing his skills in project management, strategic communication, and digital content creation. He plays an active role in visual communication and content creation processes by effectively using tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and CapCut. Distinguished by his analytical thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills, Karataş aims to add value to projects through his disciplined work ethic and strong communication skills.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sundu - Academic Advisor
Specialization
IT Strategy | Management and Organization | Strategic Leadership | Academic | Business & Systems Analysis and Design
About
Associate Professor Dr. Mustafa SUNDU earned his bachelor’s degree (1993), master’s degree (2000), and Ph.D. (2013) in “Management and Organization.” In 1999, he completed the Systems Engineering Certificate Program. In his master’s thesis titled “A Pilot Foresight Study on Financial Services in Turkey,” he attempted to forecast the long-term development of Turkey’s financial sector using the Delphi technique. In his doctoral dissertation, titled “The Effects of Institutionalization on the Internationalization Process: A Study of SMEs,” he examined the institutionalization and internationalization processes of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In 2022, he was awarded the title of Associate Professor in the field of Strategy and Management.
In his professional career, he has held managerial and consulting roles at various international and national public institutions for over 25 years. In this capacity, he has led organizational development and training projects—including digital transformation, cultural transformation, and change management—at national and international organizations, and has managed multinational teams.
In the academic field, he has published book chapters and articles in international and national peer-reviewed journals. He is the author of the book titled “The Process of Institutionalization and Internationalization in Businesses.” Artificial Intelligence and Management, Digital Transformation, Information Technology Strategy, Big Data Analysis for Businesses, Knowledge Management, Business Intelligence, Decision Making, Digital Leadership, Business Analysis, Systems Analysis and Design, and Research Methods. From 2016 to 2020, he served as Department Chair of Management Information Systems and as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Beykent University. He currently serves as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Administrative, and Social Sciences at İstinye University and as a faculty member in the Department of Management Information Systems. He teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses at İstinye University, Bahçeşehir University, and the National Defense University.
Main Areas of Expertise: Management Information Systems, IT Strategy, Digital Transformation, Management and Organization, Digital Leadership, Strategic Management, Organizational Behavior, Research Methods, Business Analysis, Systems Analysis and Design
Sinan Karacan - Academic Advisor
Specialization
Marketing and Brand Management, Business Administration, Coaching
About
Sinan Karacan was born in Ankara in 1964. He graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Boğaziçi University in 1987. He earned an MBA in International Business from Webster University. Throughout his career, he has held active roles in numerous areas—including brand and product launches, brand and product development, sales channel development and retail management, commercial marketing and merchandising management, digital marketing, market, process and business development; in addition, he has implemented projects in sales automation, database management, e-commerce, and field operations. He applies the experience and expertise he has gained as a manager and entrepreneur in his role as a Marketing and Strategy Consultant, and periodically teaches the “Commercial Marketing Applications” graduate-level course at the Institute of Social Sciences at Bahçeşehir University.
Tılsım Demirdöken - Industry Consultant
Specialization
Supply Chain Management, Breathing Training, Recruitment and Placement – HR Consulting
About
Tılsım Demirdöken was born in Istanbul. She completed her undergraduate studies in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University (1995). She began her career at Benckiser A.Ş. as a specialist in procurement, planning, and imports and exports. Between 2002 and 2012, while working at Fritolay / PepsiCo, she held the positions of Planning Supervisor, Planning Manager, and Logistics Manager, respectively. In addition to serving as an in-house trainer, Tilsim continued her career as a trainer after 2012. Tilsim currently works as a Breathwork Instructor and Recruitment and Placement Consultant.
Dr. Betül Ayça, Assistant Professor - Academic Advisor
Specialization
Academic, Economist, Human Resources, Organizational Management
About
Assistant Professor Betül Ayça was born in Istanbul. She completed her undergraduate studies in the English-language International Trade and Business Administration program at Yeditepe University (2005). She earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Yeditepe University and the City University of New York. She earned her Ph.D. in Business Administration. She has published books titled “Management for Higher Education Institutions” and “Organizational Management.” She also participates as a speaker at economic summits and has authored numerous articles in national newspapers. He currently serves as a faculty member in the master’s programs at Bahçeşehir and Arel Universities.
Özer Özgüven - Industry Consultant
Specialization
Supply Chain Management, Sales Operations, Customer Experience
About
Özer Özgüven was born in İzmit in 1975. After graduating from Kuleli Military High School, he completed his undergraduate studies in Systems Engineering at the Turkish Military Academy. After leaving the military, he began his professional career as a planning engineer at Türk Pirelli Lastikleri, where he went on to serve as Head of Export, Allocation, Logistics, and Finished Goods Warehouses. He served as Project Manager at DHL Supply Chain, Logistics Manager at PepsiCo, and Warehouse Operations Manager and Sales Operations Manager at Paşabahçe. At the companies where he worked, he led numerous projects as an expert and manager in supply chain functions. He is an avid enthusiast of outdoor sports, particularly scuba diving, snowboarding, and mountaineering.
Dilşan İyem - Academic Advisor
Specialization
Academic, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, Change Management
About
Dilşan İYEM, a Chemical Engineer, was born in Istanbul (1987). She completed her elementary and secondary education in Istanbul (2005) and graduated from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Anadolu University (Eskişehir Technical University) (2011). After completing her Occupational Safety Specialist training at Yıldız Technical University, (2012), she worked as an Occupational Safety Specialist and OSH Manager at various national and international companies while also earning a Master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety from the Institute of Health Sciences at Üsküdar University (2016). Having written his master’s thesis on “The Employer’s Representative Under Occupational Safety and Health Law,” İYEM currently serves as an OSGB coordinator and provides consulting services to employers and employer representatives in the areas of OSH management, change management, bringing national companies up to international OSH standards, OSH leadership for employers and employer representatives, and Occupational Safety Law.
