Pegasus History

Mehmet T. Nane became CEO of Pegasus Airlines in March 2016. Before that he served as CEO of CarrefourSA between 2013-2016, CEO of Teknosa between 2005-2013, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Teknosa between 2000 and 2005.

After holding various managerial positions at the Türkiye Emlak Bankası, Demirbank and Demir Invest, Mehmet T. Nane joined the Sabancı Group where he held roles including Vice President of the Strategic Planning and Project Development Department, Director of the Retail Group and General Secretary of Sabancı Holding between 2002 and 2005.

Mehmet T.Nane graduated from Boğaziçi University, department of International Relations, in Istanbul, in 1990. In 1993, Mehmet T. Nane received a full scholarship for his graduate degree from the Department of International Banking and Finance at Heriot Watt University in Scotland. He also completed the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program in 2013.

Between 2013-2015 Mehmet T. Nane served as Chairman of FAPRA (Asia Pacific Retailers Federation).  He also currently holds the following positions: Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Turkish Federation of Shopping Centers and Retailers (TAMPF); The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Retail Council President and board member of the TOBB GS1 Turkey Foundation; Chairman of the Board of the SEV Health and Education Foundation; Chairman of the Association of the Harvard Business School Turkish Alumni Association; Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Private Aviation Enterprises Association (TÖSHİD); and member of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Moreover, he is the Founder Member of Yanındayız Association and Woman in Technology Association (WTECH) and joined the PWN Equality Ambassadors as a part of the Manifesto of Gender Equality Supporting CEOs by PWN Istanbul.

Ali Ismail Sabanci has been holding the position of Chairman of Board in Pegasus Hava Tasimaciligi A.S since 2005. Between 1991 and 1997, he served in miscellaneous duties in Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Akbank T.A.S. and held office as Deputy Executive Manager of Strategy and Business Development between 2001 and 2004. He also holds a member position in Board of Directors of Esas Holding. He has a master’s degree in Economics and Politics granted by Tufts University and bachelor’s degree in International Finance obtained from Columbia University Business Administration Faculty.

He is the Chairman of Young Entrepreneurs Board within the Union of Chambers and Commodities of Turkey and also member to Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) and Turkish-American Business Council (TAIK).

Agah UĞUR has been appointed as a non-executive member of the Board of Directors in August 2019. Agah UĞUR worked in accountancy, consulting and banking firms in England and Turkey before joining Borusan Group in 1989 as its CFO. He assumed the role of Borusan Holding CEO in 1995; served as the Borusan Group CEO between 2001 and 2018 and he continues to serve as advisor to the chairman and board member at Borusan Holding. Agah UĞUR held and continues to hold several board and advisory board positions in NGOs. Currently he is a member of TUSIAD’s High Advisory Council, a board member at the Turkish American Business Council, member of the Board of Trustees of Sabanci University, member of the advisory council of Bahçeşehir University and member of the advisory board of Columbia University Istanbul Global Center. Agah UĞUR holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering obtained from the University of Birmingham in the U.K. and qualified as chartered accountant in England in 1985.

Stephen Mark GRIFFITHS joined Pegasus as a non-executive member of the Board of Directors on November 11, 2016 and has served as an independent director since January 2017. Steve GRIFFITHS is currently the Chief Operating Officer of the London Underground and has considerable executive experience in the aviation sector. Between 1995 and 2013, Steve GRIFFITHS served in various positions at Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited. Between March 2009 and June 2013, Steve GRIFFITHS was the Chief Operating Officer of Virgin Atlantic, responsible for the safe, efficient and cost effective delivery of the airline operations and customer service promise, with leadership responsibility for 6,500 employees in flight operations, engineering, airports, cargo, pilots, cabin crew, safety and security and customer experience. Prior to that, Steve GRIFFITHS served as director of engineering between 2007 and 2009 and undertook various senior engineering positions between 1995 and 2007. Between 1986 and 1995, Steve GRIFFITHS served as senior service engineer at Rolls Royce plc. 

Steve GRIFFITHS holds HND in Mechanical Engineering and has completed the Advanced Leadership Development Programme at Cranfield University. He is a citizen and a resident of the United Kingdom.

Huseyin Cagatay Ozdogru is a member of the Board of Directors at Pegasus Hava Tasimaciligi A.S since 2007. Huseyin Cagatay Ozdogru held various positions at France Telecom Group between 1997 and 2001, where his last post was Vice President of REEMEA region (Russia-East Europe-Middle East & Africa. Huseyin Cagatay Ozdogru was the President of IT & Telecommunications industry in Sabancı Holding between 2002 and 2005. In June 2005 Huseyin Cagatay Ozdogru joined Esas Holding as a member of the Executive Committee and since 2010 he is serving as the CEO at Esas Holding A.S.. Huseyin Cagatay Ozdogru has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from Istanbul Technical University and a Master’s Degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the George Washington University.

Sertac Haybat is a member of the Board of Directors at Pegasus Hava Tasimaciligi A.S since 18 March 2016. Sertaç Haybat began his work life at Bursa Airlines in 1979 as Maintenance Manager in airlines sector. He held office as a member of engineering team between 1982 and 1987, as Strategic Planning and Investments Manager, Marketing Director and Sales Director for Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia between 1989 and 1993, and as an Executive Board Member responsible for Financial and Corporate Planning at Turkish Airlines between 1997 and 2003. Moreover, he also served as a Member of Board of Directors at SunExpress company and General Manager and Member of Board of Directors at Pegasus Hava Tasimaciligi A.S between 2005 and 18 March 2016.

Sertac Haybat has a Bachelor’s Degree in aviation engineering granted by Manchester University in 1976.

Mr. Kozlu has served as a member of our Board of Directors since 2013. Mr. Kozlu held several positions at The Coca-Cola Company between 1996 and 2006 where his last position was the president of the company’s Central Europe, Eurasia and Middle East operations. Sinec 2006, he has continued to serve as consultant to Coca-Cola Eurasia and Africa Group. Mr. Kozlu served as a member of Parliament in the Turkish Grand National Assembly from 1991 to 1995 and was the chairman of CEO of Turkish Airlines from 1988 to 1991. He also served as the president of the Association of European Airlines in 1990. Mr. Kozlu holds a bachelor’s degree from Denison University and an MBA degree from Stanford University. He also holds a Ph.D. in administrative sciences from Boğaziçi University.

Zeynep Bodur OKYAY joined Pegasus as a non-executive director on July 14, 2016 and has served as an independent director since October 2016. Since 1992, Zeynep Bodur OKYAY held a number of duties at the Kale Group with investments in ceramics, construction materials, construction chemicals, defense and aviation, machinery, energy, mining, transportation and IT. Having assumed several roles as part of ceramics production planning and production management between 1992 and 1995, she was later appointed as the president and executive committee member of the group’s marketing companies and since 2007, serves as the president and CEO of the Kale Group. Zeynep Bodur OKYAY holds a bachelor’s degree in management engineering obtained from the Istanbul Technical University and has completed the management program master’s degree at Harvard University. Among her active duties assumed in various non-governmental organizations, associations, foundations and chambers, Zeynep Bodur OKYAY serves as the chairman of the general assembly of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, vice-chairman of the Economic Development Foundation, board member of the Foreign Economic Relations Board, member of the board of trustees of the Turkish Education Foundation and vice-chairman of the female entrepreneurs board of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey.