Ebubekir Şahin will assume the role of CEO of Türk Telekom, a pioneer in Turkey’s digital transformation and a leader in every aspect of communications for 185 years, effective October 24, 2025.

İsmail İlhan Hatipoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Türk Telekom, stated that they continue their investments and contributions to the national economy and employment. He said, “We are uninterruptedly continuing our investments and activities aimed at building our country’s digital future. With over 34,000 employees within the Türk Telekom family, we work in every corner of all 81 provinces. On behalf of our Board of Directors, I thank Ümit Önal, who has accomplished significant work for our company at significant milestones in the telecommunications sector. I wish Önal continued contributions to our company as a Board Member. I wish him success in his role as the President of the Republic of Turkey’s Cybersecurity Directorate. Under the leadership of our new CEO, Ebubekir Şahin, Türk Telekom, Turkey’s leading information and communications technologies company, will continue to be a flag bearer in the journey of building our country’s digital future.”

Who is Ebubekir Şahin?

He was born in 1974 in Çayeli, Rize. He completed his primary education in Rize and high school in Sakarya. He graduated from the Faculty of Communication at Gazi University in 1995 and earned a master’s degree in Journalism in 2002. He subsequently served as a civil servant at the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Security, as an advisor to a Member of Parliament in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) during the Welfare-Path governments, and as Private Secretary to the Ministry of Justice during the first term of the AKP, starting in 2002, as Private Secretary and Department Head at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as Advisor to the President of the Radio and Television Supreme Council, and as Public Relations Advisor to the Prime Ministry.

Following this, he served as Head of the Administrative and Financial Affairs Department, Deputy General Manager, and Acting General Manager at Anadolu Agency between 2011 and 2014. Between 2014 and 2017, he served as Deputy Undersecretary and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies. Pursuant to Article 35 of RTÜK Law No. 6112, he was elected as a member of the Radio and Television Supreme Council from the AK Party’s quota following an election held by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on October 16, 2017.

After serving for a period as a member, Şahin became President of the Supreme Council on January 23, 2019. He was re-elected on October 18, 2023, and served his fourth term as President of RTÜK. Ebubekir Şahin is married with two children and speaks English.