Demet Özdemir

Demet Özdemir is a prominent figure in the financial consultancy, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions industry. With over 30 years of experience, she has held the position of Corporate Finance Managing Director at EY (Ernst & Young) for the past 15 years. Throughout her career, she has provided consultancy services to nearly 1000 local and international companies across various sectors.

As the Private Equity industry leader in EY Turkey and Central and South Eastern Europe, Özdemir has gained significant expertise in finance, retail, consumer products, services, and energy sectors. She has held regional and international leadership roles, making history at EY by becoming the first Turkish Partner to be appointed as a leader in the Growth Markets division of the EMEIA (Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa) region. In this role, she contributed to the growth of numerous companies, including entrepreneurs, start-ups, venture capital, and family businesses.

Currently serving as a Board Member at Inveo Yatirim Holding, Özdemir actively advocates for gender equality and women's empowerment. She has been involved in various initiatives, such as the EY Global Business Women Advisory Board, EY Women Fast Forward, Women3 Forum Executive Committee, and EY EMEIA leader for the Entrepreneurs Winning Women (EWW) Program. Özdemir co-chaired the session on "Empowering Women Entrepreneurs" at the W20 Summit, held under the G20 in Istanbul in 2015.

Özdemir is one of the council members of the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey (BCCT). She is also one of the founding Board Members of Women On Boards Turkey and also serves as a Board of Trustees member at Junior Achievement Academy. She holds a degree in Business Administration from METU (ODTU) and a postgraduate diploma in International Finance from the London School of Economics (LSE) where she was a recipient of the British Culture scholarship. Additionally, Özdemir is a certified SMMM (CPA). Outside of her professional achievements, she enjoys sports and travel. Özdemir is a former skier and has won skiing championships in Turkey between 1987 and 1991. 

Demet Özdemir is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in finance and business. With over 22 years of experience at EY (Ernst Young), she has held various leadership roles and made significant contributions to the corporate finance and transaction advisory sectors.

Özdemir began her career at Arthur Andersen in 1991, where she worked as a Senior Manager in Audit. She later joined EY and co-established the Corporate Finance (M&A) service line in Andersen Turkey. In this role, she provided advisory services in mergers, acquisitions, share sale transactions, valuations, feasibility studies, and privatization.

Throughout her career, Özdemir has advised over 1000 local and international companies on their capital strategies. Her functional expertise includes Corporate Finance/Transaction Advisory, Strategic Planning, Business Development, and Growth for Entrepreneurs, Startups, Family Businesses, and Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). She has served clients in various industries, including Private Equity, Venture Capital, Financial Services, Energy, Technology, Industrial and Consumer Products, Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Services.

Özdemir's leadership abilities and industry expertise led her to assume key roles within EY. She served as the Private Equity Industry Leader for EY Central, Eastern, and South Eastern Europe and Central Asia (CESA) region, where she worked closely with EY Global leadership to build solutions and provide quality services for private equity funds and their portfolio companies.

In addition, Özdemir served as the Europe, Middle East, India, Africa (EMEIA) Growth Markets Leader, aligning EY Global strategies with the EMEIA region and supporting regional leaders and teams in pursuing high-growth accounts. She played a crucial role in transforming the regional business models for effective execution of the EY Global strategy.

Özdemir is recognized as an influential leader and an advocate for gender parity. She has been actively involved in initiatives promoting women's empowerment, including her membership in the EY Global Business Women Advisory Board, EY Women Fast Forward, and Women3 Forum Executive Committee. She co-chaired the session on "Empowering Women Entrepreneurs" at the W20 Summit in 2015.

Outside of her professional commitments, Özdemir serves on several non-executive boards, including Çelebi Ground Handling Turkey, GELECEK VARLIK YÖNET?M? A.?., Akenerji, Sun Tekstil, and Inveo Yat?r?m Holding. She is also a Member of the Board of Directors at The British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey. Additionally, she founded DemetOZdemir Advisory, where she provides strategy, transformation, and capital advisory services, as well as business coaching.

Özdemir holds a Master's Degree in International Accounting and Finance from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She completed her undergraduate studies with high honors in Business Administration at Middle East Technical University. She is also a certified SMMM (CPA).

Beyond her professional achievements, Özdemir has a passion for sports and travel. She is a former skier and has won skiing championships in Turkey between 1987 and 1991. Özdemir is married and a proud mother of a son.

Demet Özdemir's vision is centred around driving positive change and creating opportunities for growth and empowerment. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the financial and business sectors while also championing gender equality and women's empowerment.

One key aspect of Özdemir's vision is to provide strategic guidance and consultancy services that enable companies, entrepreneurs, startups, and family businesses to thrive and achieve their full potential. She believes in the power of strategic planning, business development, and corporate finance to drive growth, innovation, and success. By offering her expertise and insights, Özdemir aims to support businesses in navigating challenges, seizing opportunities, and realizing their strategic goals.

Furthermore, Özdemir is passionate about promoting gender equality and empowering women in the corporate world. She actively advocates for creating a level playing field where women can excel and lead with confidence. As a member of various advisory boards and committees, she works towards implementing initiatives that support and uplift women, such as the EY Women Fast Forward program and the Entrepreneurs Winning Women (EWW) Program. Özdemir believes that by promoting diversity and inclusion, organizations can unlock untapped potential and foster a more innovative and dynamic business environment.

Another crucial aspect of Özdemir's vision is to foster strong partnerships and collaborations. She recognizes the importance of connectivity, knowledge sharing, and best practice exchange across regions, sectors, and service lines. By facilitating these connections, she aims to build robust networks that drive mutual growth and create value for clients and stakeholders.