GW: What would you consider your career highlights to date and why?

Since the beginning of my career at Şişecam, our big Şişecam Family has dedicated substantial efforts into expanding Şişecam’s global footprint and adding value to glass through remarkable R&D initiatives. Our utmost commitment has always been to meet the needs of our planet and all living beings. We put so much effort into creating sustainable value and foster inclusive growth.

Let me highlight what Şişecam has achieved and its growth statistics since 2006, my first year in the company. We define the period between 2006 to 2010 as the period of regional leadership. During the global economic crisis of 2008, Şişecam focused on exports and regional investments and embraced a ‘regional leadership’ strategy. We established glass packaging and automotive glass plants in Bulgaria and Russia. We made strategic partnerships with global industry players such as Saint-Gobain. We acquired the Merefa Glass Packaging facility in Ukraine and strengthened our regional presence. While navigating through the recessionary period, we prioritised operational excellence and efficient resource utilisation, exemplifying resilience, adaptability and long-term planning as we celebrated Şişecam’s 75th anniversary in 2010. Şişecam’s story serves as an inspiration, highlighting how businesses can not only survive but thrive, even in the most challenging times, by embracing the right strategies.

From 2011 to 2014, Şişecam embarked on a transformative journey towards global expansion. Starting from 2012, Şişecam brought $2.5 billion worth of investments to life within an intensive three-year period. Şişecam not only expanded in countries where it already had a presence, like Bulgaria and Russia, but also ventured into new territories. During this period, Şişecam acquired Glasscorp and started production activities in Romania. In 2013, Şişecam acquired Richard Fritz Holding GmbH which had factories in Hungary, Slovakia and Germany. Additionally, Şişecam, began production activities in India, investing in the field of flat glass. Through these strategic acquisitions and expansion into new territories, we solidified our position as a major player in the glass industry.

Şişecam also showcased its commitment to innovation with a science-based growth strategy and established Şişecam Science, Technology, and Design Centre. These investments set the stage for future growth and expansion opportunities, enabling Şişecam to pursue global leadership while maintaining profits and operational excellence.

Following successful growth in sales revenue and profitability, Şişecam continued the 2015–2017 period with more controlled investments to ensure sustainable and continuous expansion. Şişecam became the leading flat glass producer in Europe after its flat glass investment in Italy. The company also introduced its sustainability strategy, ‘CareforNext’, for the first time in 2011. In the same period, Pearl for Glass Manufacturing, a glassware company in Egypt, was acquired.

In 2019, Şişecam embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation, investing in enhanced data architecture, analytics and visualisation. Our ‘Roots and Wings Digital Transformation Programme’ connected all global facilities with data. This holistic project gained recognition as one of SAP’s [Şişecam’s chosen enterprise resource planning system] most complex projects in the world.

During the same year, Şişecam pursued global growth by revitalising an Italian flat glass facility and expanding in India and into the US soda ash industry. The American investment marked the first step of a game-changing strategic plan, including a co-investment decision of (US) $4 billion into the US soda ash industry and subsequently a new partnership in the field of US port management. These initiatives showcased Şişecam’s exceptional leadership and the strategic approach in expanding the company’s global presence.

2020, the 85th anniversary of Şişecam, has been a unique year in the company’s deep-rooted history. Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, Şişecam recorded a major milestone in its corporate history by consolidating all its operations under a single entity. Şişecam completed the largest merger in the history of the Turkish capital markets with exemplary success. With this strategic move, Şişecam took a major step towards shaping its future. The completion of this effort unveiled a new era – ‘One Şişecam’; simplifying its legal entity and shareholding structure; consolidating all its activities under one company strengthened Şişecam’s global competitive position further.

As part of the ‘One Şişecam’ transformation, the company’s operating model – which was built on a business unit-based structure – was also transformed into function-based management. This new operating model enabled the company to more effectively manage its operations that span four continents across various business lines. This was an enormous step towards a more customer-centric, streamlined, more flexible, leaner, integrated, digitalised, optimised and agile structure.

During this period, Şişecam not only prepared for the post-pandemic world but also considered the needs of its ecosystem at every step. Recognising that sustainable growth can only be achieved through inclusivity, the company implemented measures such as ecosystem financing to provide support for its customers and suppliers. Additionally, Şişecam introduced Antimicrobial V-Block Technology, an effective solution against viruses and bacteria on glass surfaces.

In 2021, Şişecam announced its first glass packaging facility investment in Europe, located in Hungary. Additionally, the company announced its decision to invest in the establishment of a new glass packaging furnace in Eskisehir, Turkey. Keeping sustainability at the core of its activities and operations, Şişecam decided to invest in Basalia Technology, an important innovation in the field of biotechnology. Basalia is expected to contribute to Şişecam’s 2030 CareforNext strategy and play a key role in the global expansion of biotechnology.

Şişecam has demonstrated corporate excellence and growth through strategic mergers and acquisitions. The company effectively navigated supply chain disruptions and implemented scenario-based strategies to mitigate risks. With a focus on sustainability-driven investments, Şişecam secured its access to critical materials through the acquisition of Refel, an Italian refractory manufacturer. We also made strategic investments in mining resources and recently announced a major logistics project in the USA. Şişecam’s commitment to sustainability is evident through its ownership of Şişecam Çevre Sistemleri and participation in the United Nations Global Compact and Women’s Empowerment Principles. These initiatives help Şişecam position for a sustainable and successful future.

Since 2006, the start of my career at Şişecam, we have expanded the reach of our products to 150 countries, and sales have increased 3.5-fold. By 2022, the share of international sales exceeded 60%. Şişecam’s annual glass production has increased 2.3-fold, and soda ash production has increased 4.2-fold. The number of Şişecam employees has grown from 15,000 to over 24,000 in 16 years.

Throughout our 88-year history, we have managed to maintain an upward growth momentum. Şişecam stands as a truly exceptional corporate example that has consistently achieved growth through development and transformation. To ensure continuity and further development we have many more plans on the table.