Robert Yüksel YILDIRIM is the Owner, Chairman & CEO of YILPORT Holding. He was born in Sivas, Türkiye in 1960. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Istanbul Technical University in 1983. In 1989, he received his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University. He began his career as a design and project engineer at Paceco Corporation, working for five years at the container crane manufacturing firm.
Robert Yüksel YILDIRIM joined the management board of the family-owned company in 1993. The same year, he conducted the first international achievement of the company, directly importing coal from Russia. Robert Yüksel YILDIRIM led the company in new initiatives in the 2000s, and in 2008, the company made its first international acquisition in Sweden.
Today, the company is a global player in metals and mining, port management, coal and coke, fertilizers and chemicals, energy, and maritime industry. Lloyd’s List ranks Robert Yüksel YILDIRIM among the top 100 most influential people in the shipping industry, and among top 10 most powerful people in container terminals industry. Consulting company Drewry lists him as one of the top 20 global leaders in port operations. Robert Yüksel YILDIRIM is also among the top three leaders of the global chromium industry.
In addition to his responsibilities at YILPORT Holding, he is a Board Member of CMA CGM Group, a Member of the Board of Trustees at Garip & Zeycan YILDIRIM Foundation, and the Chairman of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Turkey-Colombia Business Council.
Robert Yüksel YILDIRIM has two children.
Erhan ÇİLOĞLU began his career in logistics after obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. His professional path started in 1999 at Toyota, where he developed his skills in the Supply Chain Logistics Division. In 2003, Mr. ÇİLOĞLU shifted his focus to port operations and logistics, taking on essential roles in sales, project management, field operations, marketing, and customer relations.
Erhan ÇİLOĞLU has demonstrated his capability to adapt to various industries, contributing to sectors such as automotive, white goods, electronics, construction, food, FMCG, textiles, iron, and steel.
Joining the YILDIRIM Group in 2012 as a Business Development Manager, he played a key role in devising and executing growth strategies. By 2014, he advanced to the role of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at YILPORT Inc., managing a network that includes 12 countries and 24 ports. Currently, Erhan ÇİLOĞLU acts as the Deputy CEO & CMO of YILPORT Holding Inc., with direct oversight of YILPORT Inc.'s global terminals.
Kadir OKCU worked as a consultant in the construction field for YILDIRIM Group of Companies between 2005 and 2016 and started to work at YILDIRIM Group as a Construction Projects Executive Director in 2017.
He transferred to YILPORT Inc. in 2020. He is responsible for all the construction and infrastructure projects. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at Istanbul Technical University. Mr. OKCU previously worked as a Projects Engineer and worked as a Projects Manager focusing on local and international port projects.
Between 1998 and 2009 he worked at SOYAK as Project Manager for Ambarlı Port taking part in various roles for port projects. In 2009, he started to provide consulting and projects management services for various port projects by founding Alp Mühendislik Müşavirlik Ltd. Şti.
R. Cem GÖKTAŞ joined YILPORT Holding in 2012. As of 2025, he has taken on the role of Chief Operating Officer (CCO).
He is responsible for providing operational standards, guidelines, and documentation, Global Logistics Center, Audit and Analysis, continuous improvement, HSSE standards, and terminal development in entire regions of YILPORT Holding.
He was promoted to the position of Global Operations Director effective as of 2017. In 2020, he was advanced to Global Terminal Operations Senior Director. In 2021, Mr. GÖKTAŞ took on the role of YILPORT Gebze and YILPORT Gemlik General Manager & YILPORT Holding GLC Director. In 2024, Mr. GÖKTAŞ was promoted to the position of General Manager of the Türkiye Region (Gebze, Gemlik and Körfez Terminals).
Mr. GÖKTAŞ has a bachelor’s degree in public administration. Previously, he worked as a Container Planning Chief, Operations Manager, Global Logistics Center Manager, and Global Operations Director respectively. Managing a group of central departments serving multiple terminals in different countries within the role of Operations Planning, Berth Planning, Data Control, Customer Support, and TOS Deployment on a global scale.
Luciano ALVERNAZ joined YILPORT Holding as the Global Sales and Marketing Director in 2023. As of 2025, he has taken on the role of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO).
He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Nautical Sciences from the Merchant Marine Officers University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1997.
Shortly after graduation, Mr. ALVERNAZ began his career as a Deck Officer on container vessels engaged in international trades. In 2001, he transitioned to shore-based roles, taking on various operational positions with shipping lines such as HSUD, NYK Line, CMA CGM, and Maersk. During this time, he managed categories including Stowage Planning, Capacity, Marine/Feeder/Intermodal Operations, Equipment, EMR, and Contracts.
Before joining YILPORT, Luciano ALVERNAZ held several key positions as Head of Operations for Maersk East Coast South America (São Paulo, Brazil, 2013-2016), Head of Inland Procurement and Ocean Procurement for Maersk South Europe Region (Algeciras, Spain, 2016-2021), and Head of Maersk Africa Ocean Procurement (Cape Town, South Africa, 2021-2023). In his procurement roles, Mr. ALVERNAZ was responsible for managing negotiations and commercial relationships with intermodal and terminal operators within the regional portfolio.
Gina ACOSTA joined YILPORT Holding as Chief Operational Excellence Officer in 2023.
Gina ACOSTA received her master’s degree in Transport and Maritime Management at Antwerp University in 2004. Previously, she worked at DP World as Terminal Operations Manager in Belgium (2008-2011), Landside Terminal Operations Manager (2012-2014 - Based in London Gateway/UK), Global Operations and Planning Training Manager (2014-2016 - Based in Head Office Dubai) and as Senior Manager Optimization for Americas Region (2016-2018 - Based in Charlotte/USA). Between 2018 and 2020, she worked at Peel Ports & Terminal Investment Limited as the CEO, of the Container Division (RSCT, MDHC L2 Limited & MDHC Container Services).
Before joining our company, she worked at Terminal Investment Limited as Director of Terminal Investment. Gina held several executive positions in the maritime industry, working with leading global container carriers and major port operators.
Haluk EKİN became part of YILPORT Holding in December 2023 and started to serve as the Global Executive Finance Director in 2025.
In this role, he leads financial strategy, risk management, and sustainable growth initiatives across global operations. His leadership plays a vital role in ensuring financial efficiency, optimizing working capital, and supporting the company's expansion goals in the port and logistics sector.
Before being part of YILPORT Holding, Mr. EKİN held key financial leadership roles at renowned global companies, including Kantar Media, Honda, DSM, and Roche, where he successfully managed financial operations, procurement, and administration.
He is responsible for all global finance-related activities with over 25 years of expertise in finance and accounting, building a distinguished career specializing in international reporting, budgeting, and financial controlling.
His extensive experience in multinational environments has equipped him with a deep understanding of financial planning, business administration, and strategic decision-making. A graduate of Trakya University in Accounting, Haluk EKİN continues to leverage his expertise to drive financial excellence and long-term corporate success.
İbrahim DÖLEN joined YILPORT Holding in June 2022. He is responsible for integration processes as Chief Integration Officer.
He completed the Advanced Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School in 2014.
Mr.DÖLEN previously worked at Borusan Logistics and Borusan Port as CEO between 2002 – 2019 and he worked at Hemera Capital Partners as Head of Türkiye, and he executed non-executive board member roles.
Ayşe Gülen KALPAK joined YILPORT Holding in 2011. She has been serving as the Executive Project Management Office Director since 2025.
She received her Bachelor's degree from Çukurova University, Türkiye and her Master’s degree in Business Administration from the International University of America, UK. She has been a trained project manager since 2014, having completed relevant training in project management.
After joining YILPORT Holding in 2011, Ayşe Gülen KALPAK started to take charge of the Project Management Office (PMO) in 2016, starting with handling project-based coordination roles. Under her leadership, a wide range of projects have been successfully delivered across terminals.
Her key accomplishments include leading initiatives in terminal integration, start-ups, system/software implementation, automation, process optimization (operations, EDI, technology), construction, infrastructure, and operational concept development/implementation.
Mehmet Haşim ÖZÇAYIR joined YILPORT Holding in 2024 as Chief Digital Officer. In this role, he is responsible for conducting overall Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence and supporting the company’s Business Intelligence targets, SAP deployment expansion, and integration of international investments.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration & Computer Science and his Master of Science in Mathematics & Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts, USA.
Mr. ÖZÇAYIR began his career as a Software Engineer at Logica Consulting Services in Boston. He later advanced to Principal Software Engineer and Project Lead at Fidelity Investments in Boston, followed by serving as Regional CIO for Microsoft Middle East & Africa Region in Dubai in charge of 50 subsidiary locations.
George WAGNER joined YILPORT Holding in 2021 as Global HSSE Director. Mr.WAGNER was promoted to the role of Chief ESG Officer of YILDIRIM Group in 2024. He is directly responsible for the ESG matter and sustainability responsibilities globally and he is focusing on making YILPORT a global leader in HSSE performance.
Mr. WAGNER received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Waterloo (Canada) in 1984, followed by a master’s and Ph.D. in systems and control from the University of Manchester (UK). He has worked in a wide range of industries including industrial chemicals, textiles, plastics, and packaging in Turkey and the Far East. He was the Technical Director of the Istanbul site of a major multinational packaging company and took on responsibility for HSE.
In 2007 he became first a regional HSE manager and then the interim director of HSE for all EMEA sites. In this role, he maintained HSE performance through a complex merger with another major multinational packaging company. In the new entity, he worked as a fire safety manager for all EMEA (58 sites) as well as retaining regional HSE manager and group HSE auditor roles.
Yoshiaki SUEMATSU was born in Japan where he completed his degree in Industrial Engineering at Kobe Technical College in Kobe, Japan.
From the beginning of his career, he worked as an executive of Technical Production in Quality Assurance and Site Installation Division at MES, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. and specialized in the areas of turbomachinery, material handling equipment, main ship engine, bridge construction and offshore rig. Yoshiaki SUEMATSU worked at PACECO/ESPANA as a Project Director between the years 1999 and 2002 and throughout his career, he specialized in technology fields such as steel material with heat treatment and gear technology.
After joining YILPORT Container Terminal in 2011 as a Maintenance Department Manager, he promoted to the role of CTO of YILPORT Inc. in 2015 and with his experience of more than 50 years in the industry, Yoshiaki SUEMATSU was appointed as Technical Advisor at YILPORT Inc. in 2020.
Rengin KARAMUSTAFA serves as the Human Resources Director at YILPORT Holding, which she joined as the Human Resources Business Partner in 2017.
She earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Marmara University, Türkiye, and began her career in the pharmaceutical industry. She joined Servier Pharmaceuticals, where she gained extensive experience across all Human Resources functions over the years.
After completing her Executive MBA at Istanbul Technical University, Türkiye in 2011, Rengin KARAMUSTAFA successfully led several HR projects, including Succession Planning, Performance Management, and Talent Management. Her work earned recognition for best practices in the cluster at that time.
Since she joined YILPORT Holding, Rengin KARAMUSTAFA has built strong relationships as a trusted HR strategic partner, responsible for ensuring the professional implementation of all Human Resources activities in the regions where YILPORT operates.
She lives in Istanbul, Türkiye, and is fluent in English and French.
Eryn DINYOVSZKY holds a B.S. degree in Marine Transportation at California Maritime Academy and an MBA in Shipping, Offshore, and Finance from BI Norwegian School of Management.
Prior to joining YILPORT Nordic, Eryn DINYOVSZKY worked in Abu Dhabi Terminals as Business Development Manager focusing on international business expansion. Also, in her tenure with ADT, she held the role of Transition Project Manager where she led a project team with the responsibility of implementing Khalifa Port, a 2.5 Million TEU green field semi-automated terminal, and transferring the business from its historical city central location to the newly developed industrial clustered location. Eryn DINYOVSZKY also worked for the A.P. Moller group for 10 years in both liner operations and at APM Terminals in various roles and countries.
Eryn DINYOVSZKY joined YILPORT Nordic in 2014 as General Manager of YILPORT’s Nordic Region. This comprises of YILPORT Gävle Bulk and Container Terminal, Stockholm Nord Rail Combi Terminal, YILPORT Oslo, and YILPORT Logistics. She is tasked with further developing Northern business portfolio and introducing new port technology for YILPORT Nordic.
Nuno David SILVA received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management & Administration and Master’s degrees in Port Management and Business Information.
In 1998, Mr. Nuno David SILVA started his career in the Corporate Finance and Controlling department at Hanjin Shipping in Germany, and in 1998, he worked as Information Planning & Measures Manager at ABN Amro Bank in Germany. In 2001, Mr. Nuno David SILVA returned to Portugal, and joined Gartner Group as a Project Manager.
From 2003, Nuno David SILVA continued his career at YILPORT Leixões as Operations Director and subsequently as General Manager since 2017.
Nuno David SILVA has considerable depth and breadth of experience in the ports and logistics sectors. Nuno David SILVA speaks three languages, English, German, and Spanish fluently as well as speaks Portuguese, his native language.
Alfredo JURADO von Buchwald, with a degree in Business Administration and Port Planning; has more than 40-year experience in Port Management, Logistics, and Transportation.
Alfredo began his career in 1976 at Transmabo S.A, a Noboa Group company, as Operation Deputy Manager, and throughout his career, he assumed important roles such as Manager of Ecuadorian Customs Corporation - Guayaquil District (1998); from CONAM Modernization Council, he actively participated in ports privatization processes, being appointed as General Manager of the Port Authority of Guayaquil in 2001, later becoming Vice President of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) for 2002-2003 period. Within the Public Function, he also served as an advisor-consultant for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Transportation and later as an a CORPEI consultant.
Thanks to his vast and recognized experience, he assumes the role of General Manager for YILPORT Puerto Bolivar in 2018 and later in 2020 assumes his current position, the LATAM Regional General Manager and Corporate Affairs for YILPORT Holding.