Best 18 Tech Recruiters in Turkey’s IT Scene
Meet the standout tech recruiters & headhunters who lead the IT hiring scene in Turkey, recognized for their impact, reach, and ability to source top-tier talent. ↓
Turkey’s tech industry is growing, fueled by startups, global expansions, and a deep pool of engineering talent. Behind this momentum is a group of exceptional tech recruiters who bridge companies and candidates — from senior developers to visionary CTOs. These individuals include founders of elite search firms, in-house talent strategists at global giants, and influential voices shaping Turkey’s tech hiring landscape.
Below is a curated list of the most impactful tech recruiters in Turkey today, recognized for their ability to navigate a competitive market, build standout teams, and connect top-tier talent with high-growth opportunities.
- Tim Bright
- Eyüp Gündüz
- Mehmet Bozacıoğlu
- Hasan Altunkaya
- Zeynep Doğrul Aşar
- Kaan Okurer
- Kerim Paker
- Sabit Tapan
- Şerif Kaynar
- Ahu Bade Özkan
- Metin Yıldırım
- İnanç Gürbüz
- Fatih Cömert
- Feyza Narlı
- Ecem Korkmaz Gelal
- Uğur Gökdere
- Umut Kılınç
- Murat Yeşildere
Now, let’s delve deeper into their remarkable contributions and impact.
Tim Bright
Cultural differences between Turkey and the UK.
Tim is a Founder and Partner at OneWorld Consulting, an Istanbul-based executive search and HR advisory firm.
Originally from the UK, Bright launched OneWorld in 2007 and has 20+ years’ experience across 20 countries. He is a go-to headhunter for senior tech roles and often coaches multinational companies’ HR teams.
- LinkedIn: Tim Bright
Eyüp Gündüz
Eyüp is the Founder of IT Talent Turkey (ITT) and a senior technical recruiter with a software engineering background.
He is known for placing “rockstar” IT candidates in top tech roles. Active on LinkedIn with over 36,000 followers, Gündüz is a prominent voice in Turkey’s tech talent scene.
- LinkedIn: Eyüp Gündüz
Mehmet Bozacıoglu
Mehmet is the Co-founder and General Manager of Gini Talent, one of Turkey’s leading tech staffing firms.
Bozacıoğlu brings 25+ years of experience in software and has driven Gini’s growth with a global outlook. Under his leadership, Gini Talent earned a Clutch Global Award in 2023.
- LinkedIn: Mehmet Bozacıoğlu
Hasan Altunkaya
Photo: sabah.com.tr
Hasan is the Founder of DataExpert, an executive search firm established in 1994.
With 35+ years in recruitment, Altunkaya is one of Turkey’s most respected headhunters. Dubbed the “Talent Hunter” by the press for his extensive C-level network, he specializes in placing IT and executive talent.
- LinkedIn: Hasan Altunkaya
Zeynep Dogrul Asar
Zeynep is the General Manager of Oxygen Consultancy, a firm providing recruiting and HR solutions for the IT and telecom sectors.
Aşar leverages insights on generational workforce trends to advise companies on attracting young tech talent. She is known for her consultative approach and has 20+ years in Turkey’s recruitment field.
- LinkedIn: Zeynep Doğrul Aşar
Kaan Okurer
Kaan is the Office Leader for Spencer Stuart Istanbul, where he conducts C-level and board searches in tech and other industries.
Okurer has a broad international network and guides both multinationals and Turkish conglomerates in hiring CTOs, CIOs, and digital transformation leaders.
- LinkedIn: Kaan Okurer
Kerim Paker
Photo: hrdergi.com
Kerim is the Managing Partner of KRM Management Consulting, a top recruitment and HR firm founded in 1994.
Paker has led KRM for nearly 30 years, helping global and local companies find the right IT and engineering talent. He frequently shares insights on HR trends (e.g., via podcasts and interviews celebrating KRM’s 30th anniversary).
- LinkedIn: Kerim Paker
Sabit Tapan
Sabit is the Country Manager and Partner at Pedersen & Partners Turkey, a leading executive search firm.
Tapan has extensive experience placing senior IT executives across Eastern Europe and Turkey. A former Coca-Cola regional GM, he brings corporate rigor to headhunting and has been a Pedersen partner since 2008.
- LinkedIn: Sabit Tapan
Serif Kaynar
Şerif is the Honorary Chairman of Korn Ferry Turkey, with nearly 30 years in headhunting.
Kaynar joined Korn Ferry in 1997 and led its Turkish office, becoming one of the most prominent “CEO finders” in the country. Renowned for his global perspective, he has placed countless executives in tech and is a sought-after speaker on leadership.
- LinkedIn: Şerif Kaynar
Ahu Bade Özkan
Photo: ekonomigazetesi.com
Ahu is the Managing Director of NBS Human Resources, a boutique tech recruitment agency founded in 2007.
Özkan is an influential HR leader driving digital hiring solutions – she even co-founded HiringCycle.ai, an AI-based recruiting platform. She advocates for data-driven, bias-free hiring and has emphasized 21st-century skills in IT recruitment.
- LinkedIn: Ahu Bade Özkan
Metin Yıldırım
Metin is the CEO of Aizen Recruitment, an international headhunting firm bridging Turkey and Europe.
Yıldırım leads Aizen’s Istanbul office (with HQ in Paris) and focuses on fast-growing tech & industrial companies. Under his guidance, Aizen has quickly carved out a niche in executive IT placements in Turkey.
- LinkedIn: Metin Yıldırım
Inane Gurbuz
Photo: azkan.fr
İnanç is the Founder of Azkan Group, a cross-border HR consultancy supporting international companies in Turkey since 2005.
Gürbüz (also Vice-President of the French-Turkish Chamber of Commerce) specializes in IT staffing, employer-of-record, and payroll solutions, helping European firms recruit Turkish tech talent.
- LinkedIn: İnanç Gürbüz
Fatih Cömert
Fatih Cömert is the Country Head of PageGroup (Michael Page) Turkey, overseeing IT recruitment as well as other professional domains.
Cömert has been with PageGroup since 2014 and became Turkey Managing Director in 2019. He is frequently featured in media (e.g. Bloomberg HT) discussing hiring trends in software and e-commerce roles.
- LinkedIn: Fatih Cömert
Feyza Narlı
Feyza is the General Manager of ManpowerGroup Turkey, leading one of the largest staffing firms in tech and IT services.
Narlı is active in industry associations (e.g., TÜSİAD, WTech) and appears regularly on Bloomberg HT to analyze Turkey’s IT job market. She emphasizes agile workforce solutions and upskilling in the tech sector.
- LinkedIn: Feyza Narlı
Ecem Korkmaz Gelal
Ecem is the Co-founder of TalentGrid, a tech talent matching platform started in 2019.
Gelal has 10+ years of experience and focuses on connecting software developers and engineers with startups. Recognized as a rising entrepreneur, she’s active in Istanbul’s startup ecosystem and frequently posts about tech recruiting trends on LinkedIn.
- LinkedIn: Ecem Korkmaz Gelal
- X (Twitter): @ecemkorkmaz
Uğur Gökdere
Uğur is the Founder and Managing Director of Remotetechwork, a remote IT recruitment and staff augmentation firm launched in 2023.
Gökdere, a former telecom and banking tech executive, envisions connecting Turkish software developers with global remote jobs. In its first year, his firm earned a 5.0 Clutch rating for responsiveness and quality.
- LinkedIn: Uğur Gökdere
Umut Kılınç
Photo: sohhox.com
Umut is the Founder of Work&Vision, with deep expertise in talent acquisition.
Kılınç was named the #1 LinkedIn Top Voice in HR for Turkey and regularly shares advice on hiring and careers. He is influential among young tech professionals for his motivational content on LinkedIn and Instagram.
- LinkedIn: Umut Kılınç
- IG: umut.kilinc.ik
Murat Yesildere
Murat is an Executive Board Member at Egon Zehnder Turkey, one of the world’s top executive search firms.
Yeşildere has been with Egon Zehnder since 2000 and is a managing partner specializing in strategic tech leadership hires. Also an author and podcaster, he’s active on Twitter discussing leadership and HR.
- LinkedIn: Murat Yeşildere
- X (Twitter): @MuratYesildere
Wrap Up
While these individuals offer valuable industry expertise, deep networks, and a track record of working with startups and tech firms in Turkey, their services often come at a premium price tag or with limited availability.
For fast-moving teams seeking a more responsive and cost-effective alternative, EchoGlobal Tech can be an option. Contact us today!
Note: We’ve dedicated significant time and effort to creating and verifying this curated list of top professionals. However, if you believe a correction or addition is needed, feel free to reach out. We’ll gladly review and update the page.
Lou Reverchuk