Team

Çiğdem has accumulated extensive experience in Investment Banking & Development Banking as a lead banker in managing major privatizations, M&A, IPO &SPO’s, advisory services, private equity and project finance deals with international exposure.

Her career between 1989-2004 involves key positions at the Industrial Development Bank of Turkey, Garanti Bank and Garanti Investment Bank where she  managed corporate finance, structured finance, advisory and project finance departments as Manager and Executive Vice President.

Çiğdem assumed several roles including  board memberships and advisory board roles of several corporates and trade and investment promotion official bodies and non-for-profit organisations. She served in the Turkey- Greece, Turkey- England and Turkey- India Boards of the Foreign Economic Council of Turkey trying to promote economical relationships between the countries through delegation visits, counterparty corporations, B2B organisations etc.. Between 2013-2019 Mrs. Bicik has acted as Board Member and Vice Chairperson of M&A Worldwide the network of international M&A firms. She gained extensive experience in the aviation industry during her duty as Advisor to Board with Çelebi Aviation Holding between 2005-2017.

In 2005 Mrs Çiğdem Bicik has established Crossborder in order to serve international and local clients on M&A’s, Private Equity, Management Consultancy, Debt & Equity and investment & Trade promotions. She still serves as the Managing Partner of Crossborder.

Beside her role as the Founding Partner of Crossborder she is also acting as Managing Partner of CBF Platform.

CBF Platform (www.cbfplatform.com.tr) is a platform of advisors providing one stop advisory services in a wide range of corporate solutions.

CBF Platform’s management and solution partners are comprised of highly-accomplished and respectable people with vast academic and professional experience in but not limited to finance, M&A, tax, law, production and audit advisory services.

Çiğdem is an alumni of the Private German High School of Istanbul, holds an BA and MA from the University of Istanbul and MSc from Loughborough University of Technology through a scholar granted  by the British Council and Turkish Banks Association .

e-mail : cigdem.bicik@crossborder.com.tr

Banu Karaşin brings with her a  diverse experience and skill portfolio in commercial and correspondent banking (coordination and execution of working capital and debt financing , project financing ,syndicated loans and foreign trade etc.) ; risk management; negotiation & contract structuring ;  mergers &acquisitions ( partner search ,business and  financial due diligence etc.); business development and management consultancy for structural improvements, strategic planning   and sustainability projects etc. in a wide range of industries.

Her professional career in finance industry started in 1985 at the Research and Development Directorate of State Investment Bank just prior to its  transition to Eximbank of Turkey (1985-1987). After this and  prior to joining Crossborder , she held various  commercial and administrative positions held in  banking sector : İktisat Bank( 1987-1990: private Turkish commercial bank) , Credit Lyonnais (1990-2004: International French Bank) in energy sector: Petrol Ofisi ( 2004-2006: Turkish downstream oil and gas company prior to its acquisition by Austrian OMV) and in Turkish leasing sector (2006-2007).

In 2008 and onwards, besides Crossborder, she is pursuing  her career as a free lanse professional conducting training courses in Turkish Banking Association on Foreign Trade Financing and Risk Management  (2007-2012) ; providing  management and business development advisory for several companies on project and mission  basis. Supporting  social entrepreneurship in Turkey and contributing to institutional digital transformations are her volunteering domains.

Banu is an alumni of T.E.D.  Ankara College and holds Bachelor of Arts (1980) and Master of Arts (1984) degrees from Adminstrative Sciences Faculty of Bosphorus University, İstanbul.

e-mail: banu.karasin@crossborder.com.tr

Melike Yavuz has graduated from Istanbul Bilgi University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, department of International Relations. In 2010 Melike worked in France for a year for the European Union. Prior joining Crossborder in 2015, Melike worked in Ekol Logistics in Tender Management team before becoming responsible for the Key Account Sales and Management. Melike is fluent in English and French.

e-mail: melike.yavuz@crossborder.com.tr

Serhat OĞUZ has been working in boards and management comitteed of companies for many years, serving in strategic planning and financial solutions through his vast experience in corporate banking and real sectors.

Before building a career in the finance sector, he worked as a sales and regional manager in numerous companies. He started his finance career t Yapı Kredi Bank in 1991 and took significant roles in executing many big projects with his management experience in financial analysis, credit allocation, audit, sales, and branch managment.

Since 2012, Serhat OĞUZ has been adding value to various companies by taking responsiblities in boards and executive management comitees of companies. He and his experinced team are providing solutions in financial structuring, business development, strategic planning, project finance, planning working capital requirements, and expanding budget and marketing channels.

Besides his duties as a Partner at Crossborder he keeps contributing to companies via his national and international network with an ecosystem in business development and financial solutions as the Founding Partner of CBF Paltform.

CBF Platform (www.cbfplatform.com.tr) is competent to examine all business stages, assess a company as a whole, determine all its corporate needs, and find a solution for these needs in the best way possible through a wide range of partnerships in corporate advisory services.

CBF Platform’s management is comprised of highly-accomplished and respectable people with vast academic and professional experience in but not limited to finance, M&A, tax, law, production and audit advisory services.

Serhat OĞUZ received his bachelor’s degree at Ankara University in 1988, master’s degree at Istanbul Bilgi University in 2005, and PhD at Beykent University in 2020. He focused on working capital management, company valuation, and impacts on market value in his PhD dissertation.

e-mail: serhat.oguz@crossborder.com.tr