Board of Directors
Can Ünalan
Board Member, UNLU Merchant Bank
Deputy Chairman, ÜNLÜ & Co
Can has 40 years of experience in banking and finance. He started his banking career at İşbank Audit Department in 1986 and later joined ABN AMRO Bank (1993–2006), holding roles including CRO (Chief Risk Officer), COO (Chief Operations Officer), and CEO & Board Member. From 2006, he served as Managing Director of Garanti Bank’s Corporate and Commercial Risk Unit on behalf of GE Capital Global Banking, also representing GE on the Credit Committee. Before joining ÜNLÜ & Co, he was CEO of Mubadala GE Capital in Türkiye and served as General Manager of ÜNLÜ Menkul Değerler from 2013 to 2019. Can graduated from the Business Administration Department of İstanbul University in 1985, majoring in Finance, and received an MBA from Marmara University in 1986.
H. Hüsnü Okvuran
Board Member, UNLU Merchant Bank
Deputy CEO, ÜNLÜ & Co
Hüsnü has more than 30 years of experience in investment banking and financial services. He began his career at Goldman Sachs, where he most recently served as Managing Director, Head of M&A, and Head of Emerging Markets for FIG EMEA. He later joined Deutsche Bank as Managing Director, leading investment banking activities in Türkiye and overseeing the Financial Institutions Group in CEE, the Middle East, and Africa. Before joining ÜNLÜ & Co as Deputy CEO, Hüsnü was a Partner at Actera, a leading private equity group in Turkey. In addition to his business roles, he also serves as Vice Chairman of the Board at Türkiye Education Volunteers Foundation (TEGV) and is a member of the Europe Regional Advisory Board and the Jackson School Advisory Board at Yale University. Hüsnü graduated from Yale University with degrees in Economics and Political Science.
Simru Sonar
Board Member, UNLU Merchant Bank
Simru has more than 25 years of experience in private and investment banking. She started her career at Türk Eximbank in the Country Loans Department and then joined The Chase Manhattan Bank in the Corporate Banking Division. She later moved to ABN AMRO Bank, where she held several positions within the Private Banking Division. She then joined West Deutsche Landesbank as Country Head of Private Banking. From 2001 to 2023, she worked at Credit Suisse as Head of Investment Advisory and Wealth Management and as Country CEO for Türkiye, leading the firm’s strategic operations in the region. Simru is currently a Board Member of UNLU Merchant Bank. She graduated from Middle East Technical University with a B.A. in Economics.
Bilgitay Saybaşılı
Board Member, UNLU Merchant Bank
Bilgitay has more than 25 years of experience in banking and capital markets. Previously, he worked at HSBC London, Dubai and İstanbul, focusing on debt capital markets and leading transactions in Europe, Middle East and Asia. Earlier banking roles in Turkiye included responsibilities in corporate banking, trade finance and financial institutions. Bilgitay holds a Master’s in Finance from London Business School, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Management from Middle East Technical University, and a Level 4 Investment Advice Diploma from CISI.
Cansu Ökten
Board Member, UNLU Merchant Bank
CFO, ÜNLÜ & Co
Cansu has more than 18 years of experience in finance and auditing. She started her career at PwC Türkiye Audit Department, where she served as Manager. Joining ÜNLÜ & Co in 2013, she served as Senior Director of Finance & MIS and was later appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Cansu is also a Board Member of UNLU Merchant Bank. She graduated from Koç University Faculty of Economics.
Subrata Duari
Board Member, UNLU Merchant Bank
Subrata has more than 20 years of experience in compliance and financial operations. He began his career at Janus Henderson as CASS Operations Manager and then joined LIoyds Bank as Oversight Manager - CASS Control before taking senior compliance roles at Cirdan Capital Management and Wealth Kernel. He is currently Executive Director and Head of Compliance (MLRO) at UNLU Merchant Bank. Subrata graduated from Kanpur University with an M.A. in English Literature and received an MBA in Finance and International Business from Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute. He holds a Global Financial Compliance qualification from CISI.
