After Tuesday’s general assembly at Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ), significant changes were announced in the leadership roles. Rafet Bozdoğan, the former Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and Temel Kotil, who served as General Manager, have been relieved of their duties.
Ömer Cihat Vardan, previously serving as Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Directors, has been appointed as the new Chairperson. Joining him in the revamped leadership team is Mehmet Demiroğlu, formerly the Deputy General Manager of Helicopters Branch, now taking on the role of General Manager.
Ömer Cihat Vardan
Vardan is a prominent figure in the engineering and industrial sectors. Born in 1962 in Sakarya, he earned his degree in Industrial Engineering with top honors from Istanbul Technical University in 1983. Subsequently, he pursued his passion for advanced studies, completing a master’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering at the Ohio State University in the U.S. in 1986.
Vardan’s career trajectory reflects his commitment to innovation. He played a pivotal role as a research engineer in the establishment of the Engineering Research Center (ERC) at the Ohio State University in 1985, focusing on final shaped manufacturing. Later, he contributed his expertise as a manufacturing engineer at Kalekalıp A.Ş., notably working on projects related to Stinger missiles.
In 1991, Vardan embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, co-founding Çukurova Isı A.Ş. with his family members. This company has since become a frontrunner in industrial and commercial heating systems, specializing in open space and process heating technologies. Today, Vardan serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Çukurova Isı A.Ş., steering the company towards continued success in the heating technology sector.
In addition to his remarkable achievements in the business realm, Vardan has actively contributed to numerous non-governmental organizations throughout his career. He notably held the esteemed position of the 4th Chairperson of the Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) from 2008 to 2012, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s agenda.
His dedication to fostering economic development and promoting international relations is evident through his tenure as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV) from 2013 to 2015. During this time, he also served as a member of Türkiye’s inaugural Human Rights Council, showcasing his commitment to societal welfare.
Vardan’s leadership prowess further manifested during his tenure as the Chairperson of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) from 2014 to 2017. Under his guidance, DEIK underwent significant restructuring, aligning with the evolving needs of the business community and enhancing its role on the global stage.
Currently, Vardan continues to make invaluable contributions to the heating sector as the President of the Natural Gas Equipment Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (DOSIDER). Moreover, he holds key positions in prominent organizations such as MÜSIAD, the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO), TOBB Air Conditioning Assembly, Architects Engineers Group (MMG), and the Istanbul Medeniyet University Support Foundation (IMUDEV).
Beyond his professional endeavors, Vardan cherishes his role as a family man, being married with two children. His proficiency in English further facilitates his global engagements and endeavors.
Since May 13, 2022, Vardan has assumed the crucial role of Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Directors at TUSAŞ, bringing his wealth of experience and leadership acumen to this esteemed aerospace institution.
Mehmet Demiroğlu
After completing his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Yıldız Technical University, Demiroğlu completed his master’s and doctorate at Renssealer Polytechnic Institute in New York.
Professional experiences
• Aerospace Engineer, Eskişehir Air Supply Center, 1996-1997
• Project Engineer, Advanced Innovative Technologies, 1996-2001
• Project Manager, Pro/Solutions International, 2001-2004
• Design Engineer, GE Global Research Center, 2004-2009
• Storage Design Engineer, GE Energy Storage, 2009-2010
• Senior Design Engineer, GE Energy, 2010-2012
• Co-Founder and General Manager, GRTC, 2012-2014
• R&D Director, BMC Power, 2014-2017
• Deputy General Manager, BMC Power, 2017-2018
• Turboshaft Program Director, TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI), 2018-2020
• R&D Director, TEI, 2020-2021
• President of TUSAŞ Academy, 2021-2022
• Helicopters Branch Deputy General Manager, TUSAŞ.