Probil is a leading partner of Cisco and we expect this leadership to expand beyond Turkey given the specializations of Probil and its highly competent staff.

Recently you have been appointed as the new General Manager of Cisco Turkey. What are your goals?

As the GM of Cisco, one of my goals is to ensure all segments of the Turkish market are aware of Cisco’s comprehensive solutions.   As a worldwide leader in networking, we have an impressive product portfolio that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate.   I am still learning something new everyday and have come to the conclusion I simply need to define our customers’ needs and there is a working solution somewhere in Cisco.

The adoption and growth of ICT is critical to the development and global competitiveness of Turkey.   Our team, along with our channel partners, leads the way introducing the benefits of ICT and its applications to companies and the public sector.  I very much enjoy being part of presentations where we outline comprehensive and transformational solutions.  Some of the transformational projects are very significant and will help improve the way we work live, play and learn.   

Most of our business is done through a network of qualified Cisco partners, which is also the model we follow in Turkey.  We consider our partners to be an extension of Cisco.   I closely follow our partners and monitor the capabilities of the partner ecosystem.  Their specialization areas and the markets they serve are critical in forming a comprehensive solutions portfolio for our customers.   With a capable ecosystem we are fully equipped to deploy our technologies in crreative ways to meet and exceeds the needs of the most demading applications.

What do you think of the development of the IT industry in Turkey? What is your stand on the increasing part of the CIOs of today in the strategic management of the companies?

Turkey is an interesting market when it comes to use of technology.  While we lag in some areas, other segments such as the financial sector are great users of techology and have made it an  integral part of their strategies.  The overall ICT spend in Turkey compared to nations of similar GDP per capita is relatively low.  As a matter of fact, we have moved back a few places in the rankings during the recent global crisis. 

We continue to  contribute to the discussions emphasizing the role of ICT in the development of a country.  Broadband is an undeniable necessity for a country and its citizens to compete and thrive.  Increasing bandwidth and its use on per capita basis has direct correlation to GDP growth and increased employment.  We encourgae our central and local governemnts to capitalize on the benefits of ICT and support their strategies to accelerate the growth of bandwidth and its utilization towards specific targets. 

The CIO needs to have a seat at the table as most business rely heavily on technology to achieve efficiencies and create differentiation in their offerings.   As top management and shareholders recognize technology as a powerful tool, we see CIOs reporting directly to the CEO.  We wish to see a similar involvement by the CIOs in the public sector and hope our local and central government to leverage technology to provide improved citizen services.  

The job of the CIO is not easy -  he/she needs to balance highly demanding day-to-day activities with contributions to corporate strategy.  In this regard, the role of the CTO is also critical.  CTO vision and its alignment to the IT organization and its objectives is important for long term success.  Both roles require business people with good understanding of technologies, markets  and  processes in the company’s value chain.        

What do you think of the Probil-Cisco business partnership?

Probil is a leading partner of Cisco and we expect this leadership to expand beyond Turkey given the specializations of Probil and its highly competent staff.  They have achieved many firsts with Cisco including various specialializations in some of the toughest advanced technologies.  In the short period I have known Probil, I have been impressed with the quality of their management and technical staff.   They have a well articulated and clear strategy and adhere to the values they adopted.

Probil has approximately 40 Cisco certified engineers focused on creating industry leading solutions using Cisco products and services.  Probil was the first Cisco Silver Partner in Turkey and recently achieved the Gold Partner status, which is the highestpossible level.   I am sure the market will recognize the quality and competence Probil has demonstarted to us during its  Gold partnership audit.       

We very much appreciate Probil’s commitment to choosing Cisco as its sole provider  of networking technologies.  The partnership has been rewarding for both companies and we expect the cooperation and its benefits to grow exponentially in the coming years. 

You have been living abroad for a long time. When did you decide to return to Turkey? Are you used to living in Istanbul? What was the change that struck you the most when you came back?

Even though I lived overseas many years, I never lost contact with my country.  I had worked in  Turkey at the start of my business career and had contributed to the communications infrastructure by supplying products to PTT for outside plant.  Later, I worked in the United States, all my jobs being in the technology sector.  Many factors contributed to my decision to return home including significant growth opportunities in Turkey and my family.

Our adjustment to Istanbul has been smooth.  I am a flexible person having lived in multiple countries and worked in different cultures.   We love the food and there is plenty to experience and enjoy.   We already have few favorite spots and the list is growing with each passing month.

Cisco is a great company and I enjoy working with a bright and capable team.  In addition, I truly enjoy dealing with our business partners and our customers.   They are innovative and have a good grasp of the market dynamics.  I am pleasently surprised with the speed of innovation in many sectors of the economy.  We definitely have more ground to cover, but I am sure with further deregulation and integration to the global economy, we will experience improvements in the remaining sectors as well.

Do you think you can achieve a balance between your personal life and business life? (If yes, how do you do it?)

Work is my biggest hobby and where I have great fun.  Understanding a customer’s business objectives, designing solutions and seeing their success is priceless.  I am also driven by the desire to contribute to the lives of others; whether through coaching a young colleague or promoting ideas to improve the social systems in our country such as equality in education for all our children.

My family tends to drive the activities outside of work as my natural instinct is to spend my spare time reading or browsing the Internet.   Thanks to them, I get to enjoy many social events especially on weekends.  The work-life balance has never been a concern as I see them interlinked and the collaboration technologies of Cisco, with anytime anywhere access, makes it even more integrated.    

How do you spend your holidays? Can you tell us about your latest holiday?

Several years ago, we made a decision to make travel a priority and followed through with annual overseas trips.  We later realized that our home countries have incredible places to visit and traditions to experience.  We now plan to explore Turkey while spending some extended weekends at European cities in the region.

Our last major trip was to Philippines and Hong Kong.  It was our first to the region.  The white sand beaches of Philippines were exceptional.  We were impressed with Hong Kong at many levels - the culture, the kindness of the people, the cleanliness and plenty of inexpensive shopping. 

How close are you technology? What is the most important technology of the last century? Is there anything that makes you say ‘I wish it was invented and things would have been easier for us?’

I would qualify myself as a First Majority per Geoffrey Moore’s technology adoption model - not the person that jumps on the first thing that comes by but waits for the proven solutions.   On the other hand, I am a good user of technology.  I tend to quickly see areas were a specific  technology could be applied.   And, when it comes to personal items, I research extensively and usually end up buying a good device as I am stickler for quality and specmanship.

At my first company, we had created many firsts in mobile computing and communications.   It is a wonderful feeling to come up with an idea but even more exciting to see it working.   A world with seamless communication, where applications remain where you left them and are instantly available when you need them again would be great.   As far as a specific idea, I need to keep that  for Cisco.