Burak Bilge

1975 - I was born in Istanbul
1993 - Florya Bilge Kagan Private High School, I played volleyball and basketball
1993 - Boğaziçi University, Business Administration, Boğaziçi is a real school, I learned a lot
1996 - I started working at Yaşarbank and took my first step into business life
2000 - Eskişehir Anadolu University School of Business, honors degree
2003 - Yeditepe University Banking and Finance MSc, I learned a lot on things like active/passive, balance sheet management, which I came to realize later on
2004 - Yeditepe University Political Science and International Relations PhD (thesis), I learned a lot from great people like Prof. Dr. Feroz Ahmed, Prof. Dr. Cemil Oktay, Prof. Dr. Haluk Ülman, Prof. Dr. Ali Fuat Borovalı, Prof. Dr. Mesut Hakkı Caşın, I would graduate if I could complete my thesis
2007 - Due to my professional duties at Garanti Bank, I settled temporarily in Bucharest
2007 - I moved to Vienna due to an offer I got from Austrian Erste Bank, we really enjoyed the best of this beautiful city
2007 - I have had the chance to travel extensively, work with wonderful people and see new places because of my responsibility for the entire region
2008 - I got married to Damla, I guess one of my best decisions
2008 - I participated in the Mentoring program of my school’s alumni association BÜMED, to support young students in their career and life journeys. I still continue to work actively with young people
2009 - I was appointed as Supervisory Board member to 3 companies in Austria and Croatia by Erste Group
2010 - I ran lobbying activities in the European Parliament in Brussels on behalf of my company, Erste Bank, I must admit that people were very surprised to hear that I was Turkish
2011 - At my company, Erste, the largest financial institution in Central and Eastern Europe, I have had the chance to design and launch many innovative projects like Keep the Change, installment cards, wallets, iPhone and Android digital payment solutions etc.
2012 - Our daughter Derin was born
2013 - Back home, as a result of discussions with Lykos Group, I think we missed İstanbul
2013 - I became a member of TUSIAD
2015 - Our daughter Pera was born
2016 - With our company Austria Card, we started to serve the most established institutions in Turkey and our reputation and customer portfolio are growing day by day. I am the very proud that we managed to move forward that much
2017 - I became a member of Istanbul Chamber of Industry
2018 - I am a member of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and hopefully can find a chance to contribute to the commercial and financial life of my country
2019 - I was elected as Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)’s Vice Chair of the Austrian Business Council
2021 - I was elected as Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)’s Chair Person of the Austrian Business Council
2022 - I was elected as Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)’s chair person of the Austrian Business Council and Digital Transformation Committees
2023 - I was appointed as a member of the Management Board of our mother company Austria Card AG, responsible from Middle East and Africa besides Türkiye
2024 - I was elected as Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)’s Chair Person of the Austrian Business Council for a second term