Kıvanc Zaimler is Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at Sabanci Holding, where he combines three decades of international experience with a focus on energy, leadership, and business development. His career reflects a consistent pattern of transforming companies, scaling operations, and building agile, high-performing teams.
Current Role at Sabanci Holding
Zaimler serves as Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at Sabanci Holding in Istanbul, Türkiye. In this role, he leads the group’s strategic direction and oversees its diversified operations, building on his long tenure within the organization. Prior to becoming CEO, he was Energy Group President, where he was Chair of Enerjisa Enerji and Vice Chair of Enerjisa Üretim. This period anchored his reputation in the energy sector and deepened his experience in large-scale infrastructure and utility operations.
Board Leadership and Corporate Governance
Zaimler has held multiple board roles across energy, digital, and financial services. At SabancıDx, he served as Chair of the Board and later as Vice Chair of the Board, with responsibilities spanning Istanbul and the Netherlands. He has also served as a Board Member at AgeSA Hayat ve Emeklilik and Aksigorta, and as Vice Chair of the Board at TEMSA in Adana. These positions highlight his cross-sector expertise and his focus on governance, transformation, and long-term value creation.
Education and Early Foundations
Zaimler’s formative years combined academics and athletics. He attended Istanbul Erkek Lisesi, where he was Captain of the Basketball Team, and later earned a BA in Industrial Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, where he played basketball professionally. His background in industrial engineering informs his approach to operations and strategy, while his experience as a team captain and professional athlete underpins his leadership style.
Civil Society and Global Engagement
Zaimler maintains an active role in organizations that shape energy policy and sustainability. He serves as Vice President and Chair of the Executive Board at World Energy Council–Türkiye and as a Board of Directors Executive Committee Member at Sabanci University’s Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate. Through these roles, he contributes to discussions on energy transition, climate action, and sustainable development.
Core Skills and Expertise
Zaimler’s top skills include Leadership and Management, with deep domain strength in Energy and Supply Chain Management, each endorsed by dozens of colleagues and industry peers. His profile lists 50 skills in total, reflecting a broad operational and strategic toolkit built over three decades.