BTSO Chairman of the Board Özer Matlı Receives His Certificate of Election

Özer Matlı, who was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO), has received his certificate of election. Emphasizing that BTSO is the common umbrella organization for all its members, Matlı said, “BTSO is the Chamber of all of us. We will work with an approach that enables each of our 60,000 members to feel part of this organization, voice their concerns, and take part in the solution process.”

The Özer Matlı era has officially begun at BTSO, the umbrella organization of Bursa’s business community. Following the completion of the election process that determined BTSO’s 2026–2030 term, Özer Matlı, who was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors, received his certificate of election from Dr. Alaattin Karakaya, Chair of the Nilüfer 1st District Election Board, at a ceremony held at the Bursa Courthouse.

“Now Is the Time to Work Together for Bursa”

Stating that Bursa is the common ground that unites everyone, Özer Matlı said they would act in unity and solidarity during the new term. Matlı stated, “We have one Bursa, and we all draw our strength from these lands. We may have different opinions and expectations, but what unites us all is our sense of responsibility toward Bursa and its people. Our primary duty in the new term is to set aside our differences and work together for the future of our city.”

“BTSO Is the Chamber of All of Us”

Noting that BTSO’s greatest strength lies in its members, Matlı said they would adopt a participatory and solution-oriented management approach during the new term. Matlı stated, “We will all work together to expand production, trade, and exports and further strengthen Bursa. We will strive to resolve the key issues facing our business community, particularly access to finance.”

Thanking the Bursa business community for its support, Matlı said, “I would like to once again thank everyone in our business community who has entrusted us with the responsibility of serving Bursa and placed their trust in us in the growth journey of this city.”

Visit to Bursa Governor Erol Ayyıldız

Following the certificate ceremony, BTSO Chairman of the Board Özer Matlı, Assembly President Erol Dağlıoğlu, and members of the Board of Directors paid their first official visit to the Bursa Governorship. During their meeting with Bursa Governor Erol Ayyıldız, Chairman Matlı and the Board members exchanged views on the new term. Governor Ayyıldız congratulated BTSO Chairman Özer Matlı and the Board members on their new positions and wished them success. BTSO Chairman Özer Matlı and the Board members also visited Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor Mustafa Çelenk and Ercan Aygün, President of the Bursa Judicial Commission for First Instance Courts.

Distribution of Responsibilities within the BTSO Board of Directors Completed

Following the elections, the BTSO Board of Directors convened for its first meeting and completed the distribution of responsibilities. Osman Güler and Sinan Topuk were elected Vice Chairmen of the Board of Directors, while Safa Yaşar Çelik was elected Treasurer of the Board. Elif Özhan, a member of the new Board of Directors, also made history as the first woman elected to the BTSO Board of Directors in the institution’s 137-year history.

Ömer Kumova Elected Chairman of the BTSO Disciplinary Board

The BTSO Disciplinary Board also held its first meeting with the participation of Chairman Özer Matlı. Ömer Kumova was unanimously elected Chairman of the Disciplinary Board. The Board’s principal members are Ömer Kumova, Ali Erge, Ergin Kaplanbaşoğlu, Selçuk Yedikardeş, Halim Dayı, and Necati Şahin, while Ömer Pirge, Uluç Cihan, Suat Çetin, Durmuş Kumru, Murat Beyazıtlı, and Koray Kozoğlu serve as alternate members.

Biographies of BTSO Board of Directors Members

BTSO Vice Chairman of the Board Osman Güler:

Born in 1962 in Kardzhali, Bulgaria, Osman Güler graduated from the Department of Electronics Engineering at Sofia Technical University. He is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Elektroteks, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of mattress production machinery. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of the International Bedding Industry Association (IBIA) and the Association of Executives, Industrialists and Businesspeople of Kardzhali Origin (KIRCAALİSİAD). Güler is also a member of various non-governmental organizations.

BTSO Vice Chairman of the Board Sinan Topuk:

After completing his business administration education, Sinan Topuk worked in various departments of Tokgözler A.Ş. and served as the company’s General Manager from 2007 to 2013. Since 2013, he has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Tokgözler A.Ş. In 2013, Topuk became General Manager of Bolt Bağlantı Elemanları A.Ş., where he has also served as Chairman of the Board since 2025. He has held board positions in non-governmental organizations such as TÜGİAD Bursa and RUMELİSİAD, and has also served as Vice Chairman of the TOBB Bursa Young Entrepreneurs Board and Second President of Bursaspor. Since 2023, Topuk has served as Chairman of the Board of the Fasteners Industrialists and Businesspeople Association (BESİAD).

BTSO Treasurer of the Board Safa Yaşar Çelik:

Born in Bursa in 1996, Safa Yaşar Çelik graduated with honors from the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University. He completed a thesis-based master’s degree in investment banking at Queen Mary University of London in the United Kingdom and pursued a thesis-based master’s degree in public law at Istanbul Medipol University. He is Chairman of the Board of SFA Group, which operates in the plastic packaging industry.

BTSO Board Member Abidin Şakir Özen:

As a second-generation representative of Abidin Usta Osmanlı Sofrası, whose foundations were laid by his father, Abidin Özen, in 1967, Abidin Şakir Özen operates in the food and industrial catering sectors. He is Chairman of the Board of Abidin Usta Osmanlı Sofrası and Örnek Yemek Sanayii and has undertaken important responsibilities in the business community and non-governmental organizations. Özen has served as a Board Member and Vice Chairman of the Board at RUMELİSİAD, as Chairman of the BTSO Vocational Development and Integration Council, as a BTSO Assembly Member for two terms, and as a Board Member for one term. Since 2025, Özen has served as Chairman of the Board of the Bursa Food Industry Association (BUYSAD).

BTSO Board Member Murat Çağlar:

Murat Çağlar graduated from the Department of Management Engineering at Istanbul Technical University in 1995. In 1997, he completed a master’s program in management engineering at Old Dominion University in the United States, followed by a master’s program in leather technology at the University of Northampton in the United Kingdom in 1998, both with distinction. In 2001, Çağlar began working as General Manager at the family-owned company MUR-DER Deri Sanayi A.Ş. Since 2022, he has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Bursa Leather Specialized and Mixed Organized Industrial Zone.

BTSO Board Member Seyfullah Baylan:

Seyfullah Baylan is Chairman of the Board of BYL Tekstil, a company operating in the home textiles industry, and serves as Chairman of the Fair Committee within the Turkish Home Textile Industrialists and Businesspeople Association (TETSİAD). Baylan is also a member of the Entrepreneurial Committee of the Uludağ Organized Industrial Zone and a member of the Executive Board of Bursaspor.

BTSO Board Member Savaş Keskin:

Born in Bursa in 1974, Savaş Keskin is Chairman of the Board of Güleryüz Karoseri Otomotiv Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. and GOF Otobüs Fabrikası A.Ş., both among Türkiye’s established bus manufacturers. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the Association of Commercial Vehicle Body Manufacturers and Suppliers (TÜSTED). Keskin was elected to the BTSO Assembly from the 11th Professional Committee and has previously served as a member of the BTSO Board of Directors.

BTSO Board Member Elif Özhan:

Born in Bursa in 1976, Elif Özhan has worked in various departments of Özhan Marketler Zinciri since 1993. She is a member of the company’s Board of Directors and is also the first woman to serve on the BTSO Board of Directors. She additionally serves as Chair of the Women’s Economy Platform.

BTSO Board Member Zeki Eker:

Zeki Eker is Chairman of the Board of İzomet, a company operating in the construction and building materials sectors. In addition to his work in the business community, he has held various positions in local government and non-governmental organizations. Eker has served as Chairman of the Osmangazi City Council, a member of the Osmangazi Municipal Council, and a member of the municipal executive committee. He has also served as Vice Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Bursa Siirtliler Association. In addition, Eker chairs the Employers Commission of the Bursa Confederation of Associations (BUR-KON).

BTSO Board Member Mehmet Zahit Yanar:

Born in Bursa in 1983, Mehmet Zahit Yanar graduated from the Department of Business Administration at Uludağ University in 2005. He serves as a Board Member of B.H.S. Tekstil A.Ş., which operates in the textile industry, and Tercih Nakliyat Akaryakıt A.Ş., which operates in the fuel and construction sectors. Yanar has also served as Head of the Football Department at Bursaspor.