Mert Engindeniz

Advisor to the Chairman and CEO @ Global Ports Holding

About

Finance/legal executive with experience across various publicly held companies operating in emerging markets since 1994, serving as CLO, CEO, and Board Member, including 13 years in investment banking. Recently rejoined the Global Investment Holding group in its ports business, Global Ports Holding, the world’s largest cruise port operator with 33 locations. Geographic experience spans Turkey, the former CIS countries, Eastern Europe, and North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Spent a significant amount of time in frontier markets as an executive board member of Klimasan (Metalfrio), an ISE-listed global player in commercial refrigeration. Served as “of counsel” at YaziciLegal, a law firm that regularly represented leading banks and investment firms. Member of the Istanbul and New York Bar Associations and holds a graduate degree from Cornell Law School. Has also been a NASD-certified General Securities Representative (Series 7).

Country

Türkiye

City

Istanbul

Industry

Investment Banking

Skill

Executive Leadership, Legal Advice, Attention to Detail, Pressure Situations, Stakeholder Management, Investment Management, Business Administration, Mergers, IPO, Corporate Finance, Entrepreneurship, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Capital Markets, Project Finance, Due Diligence, Joint Ventures, Corporate Governance, Restructuring, Investments

Experience

Advisor to the Chairman and CEO

Global Ports Holding

2025-10 - Present · 1 yr

Istanbul, Türkiye

Having previously worked closely with the Chairman & CEO, Mr. Mehmet Kutman, for 13 years in investment banking, I have now rejoined the Global Investment Holding group in their ports business, Global Ports Holding, the world’s largest cruise port operator with 33 locations. I will be advising Mr. Kutman primarily on matters relating to legal affairs, cross-border transactions, and corporate governance.

Independent Financial and Legal Advisor

2021-6 - 2025-9 · 4 yrs 4 mos

Member Board Of Directors

Klimasan

2018-7 - 2021-6 · 3 yrs

Istanbul, Turkey

Executive Board Member

Klimasan

2017-8 - 2018-7 · 1 yr

Manisa, Turkey

Led legal and risk management functions while establishing Klimasan’s in-house legal department. Oversaw corporate relations with regulatory bodies and investor relations, and provided guidance to the Board on corporate governance matters. Managed all material ad hoc transactions, including acquisitions, joint ventures, and financing transactions in Turkey and other operating jurisdictions. Worked closely with senior management to structure business operations in frontier markets, mitigating collection and counterparty risks. Played a leadership role in crisis management and recovery of outstanding receivables, and sourced senior talent to address identified managerial gaps.

Non-Executive Member of the Board

Klimasan

2011-6 - 2017-8 · 6 yrs 3 mos

Manisa, Turkey

Head of Audit Committee

Of Counsel

YazıcıLegal Hukuk Bürosu

2015-10 - 2018-7 · 2 yrs 10 mos

Istanbul, Turkey

Mergers and acquisitions, capital markets law and corporate law matters (with concentration on corporate governance)

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Turcon RE Development

2007-9 - 2010-4 · 2 yrs 8 mos

Izmir

Co-founded an entrepreneurial venture that successfully completed two residential apartment projects in Izmir before concluding operations.

CEO, Chief Legal Counsel

Global Securities Istanbul

1994-11 - 2007-5 · 12 yrs 7 mos

I began my career at Global Securities in Istanbul—then the market leader—where I spent 13 years and rose from Chief Legal Counsel to CEO and Board Member. In these roles, I led and supported corporate finance initiatives for mainly Western institutional investors, overseeing privatizations, IPOs, and private placements across multiple jurisdictions. Our activities were supported by a U.S. broker-dealer subsidiary, through which we engaged directly with American institutional clients. During this period, I also served on the board of Efes Sınai Yat., a subsidiary of the Anadolu Group, in a role aligned with and complementary to our investment banking advisory activities at Global.