Serhan Özcan has been elected as the new Chairman of the Ship Brokers Association, succeeding Onur Türkeş in a pivotal leadership transition.
New Era at the Ship Brokers Association: Serhan Özcan Elected as Chairman of the Board
The Ordinary General Assembly of the Ship Brokers Association, one of the long-established and respected professional organizations in the Turkish maritime sector, was held at the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping Assembly Hall for the year 2026. Onur Türkeş, who has served as the president of the association for the past two years, handed over the baton to Serhan Özcan, who was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the Board for the new term.
The Ordinary General Assembly of the Ship Brokers Association gathered at the İMEAK DTO Assembly Hall in Fındıklı with the participation of İMEAK Chamber of Shipping Chairman Tamer Kıran, DTO Assembly and Board members, previous presidents of the association, and numerous industry representatives. İMEAK Chamber of Shipping President Tamer Kıran, Vice President Recep Düzgit, and the DTO Board of Directors also attended the General Assembly.
Beginning with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, the General Assembly proceeded to approve the activity and financial reports for the 2024–2026 working period after the formation of the Chairmanship.
"Two Years Filled with Institutional Successes"
Addressing the members and the sector from the podium of the General Assembly, former Chairman Onur Türkeş summarized the vision projects implemented during his two-year term. Türkeş stated that the acquisition of titled real estate strengthened the institutional independence of the association, scholarships were provided to 100 maritime students, the 7th Bosphorus ShipBrokers Dinner, held with record participation, showcased Turkish brokerage on a global stage, and official audits were completed with "zero errors." He thanked the board he worked shoulder to shoulder with during his term and the stakeholders in the sector, and conveyed his best wishes to the new administration.
Serhan Özcan: "We Will Build the Future with Knowledge, Connection, and Competence"
Serhan Özcan, who was elected as the Chairman of the Board of the Ship Brokers Association with strong support from the General Assembly members, shared the roadmap for the upcoming term in his thank-you speech.
Emphasizing that the fundamental factors of "trust and human relations," which are the basis of the brokerage profession, will not lose value in an era where artificial intelligence and digitalization are transforming the industry, Özcan stated that brokers who create added value will become even more indispensable. He noted that they have built the vision for the new term on the pillars of Knowledge, Connection, and Competence. Özcan also announced that from this training period onward, a separate scholarship and internship/employment program will be implemented within the association.
New Term Committees of the Ship Brokers Association
As a result of the General Assembly, the Management and Audit Boards determined for the 2026–2028 term are composed of the following names:
Management Board (Principal)
Serhan Özcan (Chairman of the Board)
Nevzat Sonay Üler
Ender Demirtabak
Fatma Berrak Çimen Türkeri
Management Board (Alternate)
Eftihia Mesounte Tasimoglou
Gökçen Alaz Zorba Eren
Audit Board (Principal)
Orhan Semih Dinçel
Adem Nezih Manavoğlu
Seden Öztorun Çarklar
Audit Board (Alternate)
Zeynep Pınar Kalkavan Sesel
Hasan Aziz Ertan
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
