Business-woman.
She was born on the 7th of November 1964 in Istanbul. She is the daughter of the famous
businessman Dr. H. İbrahim Bodur. After graduating from Italian High School
in 1984-85 academic period, she graduated from Department
of Management Engineering of Istanbul Technical University in 1989. She joined
a management trainee graduate program in Harvard University
between 1990 and 92.
Upon
returning to Turkey
she worked at different positions for Kale Corporate Group starting from 1993. She
first undertook responsibilities in introduction and advertisement departments.
Later she worked in production units of Kalebodur and Çanakkale Ceramic
Factories Inc. Then she worked in national and international sales and
marketing companies within Kale Corporate Group, Marketing Group Presidency.
After some time she was assigned to Executive Boards
Membership and Chairwomanship of companies within Kale Group. Zeynep Bodur
Okyay was appointed Group President of Ceramics in 1997. Between 2004 and 07 she
served as Kale Corporate Group, Vice Chairwoman of Executive Boards and Chief
Executive Officer. Since the 27th of July 2007 she has been
Chairwoman of Kale Group.
Aside from
her intensive business life, Okyay also works actively in executive boards of
numerous associations, foundations and professional chambers. She is currently
Vice Chairwoman of Executive Board of Economic Development Foundation (İKV), Member
of Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD), Member
of Turkish Young Businessmen’s Association (TÜGİAD), Member of Executive Board
of Istanbul Chamber of Industry and Commerce (İSO), Member of Executive Board
of Ceramic Coating Materials’ Union (SERKAP), Chairwoman of Foreign
Economic Relations (DEİK) Turkish-Italian Business Council.
Bodur is
one of the founders of Harvard Alumni Association. With her works she
contributed to the establishment of Turkish chair in Harvard University.
She speaks Italian and English. In 2006 she was awarded with Order of Merit of
Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) which is granted to people who made
great service to their country in national and international levels and who contributed
to Turkey’s
introduction, people’s welfare, education, happiness and social development.
She was also awarded with “Cavaliere di Lavoro” order by Italian State
thanks to her services and contributions to Turkish-Italian business relations.
Thanks to her contributions to relations between Turkey
and European Union countries, she was granted in 2010 “Franco Nobili Prize”
which is given within “Turkey
in Europe”.
Zeynep
Okyay is married with Osman Okyay, Head of Technical and Chemical Teams of Kale
Corporate Group and mother of a son. Okyay realized numerous activities within Kale
Group contributing to Turkey’s
scientific, cultural and artistic life. Schools and some education centers she
built were given her name.