Zeynep Bodur Okyay was born in İstanbul in 1964. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management engineering from Istanbul Technical University and has completed graduate degree in management at Harvard University. She has held various executive positions at Kale Group of Companies. She currently serves as the President of Board of Directors and CEO of Kale Group of Companies.

Having assumed the Presidency of Steering Committee of the C20 (Civil 20), an official engagement group of G20, during the Turkish Presidency of the G20 in 2015, Ms. Okyay holds active duties in various non-governmental organizations, associations, foundations and chambers. She serves as the president of the general assembly of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, vice-president of the Economic Development Foundation, board of directors and executive board member of the Foreign Economic Relations Board, president of DEIK Turkey-Italy Business Council, Coordinating President of DEIK European Councils and vice president of Italian Chamber of Commerce in Turkey.

In 2006, Ms. Okyay was awarded the title of ‘Cavaliere del Lavoro’ for her contributions to Turkish-Italian relations. In 2014, she was awarded the Official Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy. Having been awarded the “Turkey in Europe Franco Nobili Award” for her contributions to relations between Turkey and the European Union in 2010, Ms. Okyay received the Turkish Grand National Assembly Outstanding Service Award in the same year. Ms. Okyay co-founded Harvard Alumni Group and has supported the establishment of a Turkish language chair at Harvard University.

Married to Osman Okyay, Vice-President of Kale Group of Companies, and mother of a son, Ms. Okyay speaks Italian and English fluently.