Gustaco Consulting was established in 2011 to serve Canadian companies new to Turkish markets, and to help Turkish firms navigate market entry into Canada.
The world is changing rapidly. Emerging markets will be driving global growth for the foreseeable future. Turkey exemplifies the business challenge of age. It has experienced tremendous economic growth over the past decade, engaged in substantial economic reforms, and built powerful global businesses and brands. Istanbul is a burgeoning global city in a developing regional power straddling Europe and Asia and bordering Middle East, Caucuses and Central Asia. But to do business in Turkey also requires significant local knowledge. It is the kind of market that poses both significant risks but also significant and necessary benefits to Canadian firms. Gustaco Consulting can provide the needed bridge for Canadian firms looking to enter this promising market.
Turkish firms and investors are increasingly going global. Canada is strong, Western market, with a diversified economy. Gustaco excels at providing market entry services to Turkish firms and individuals looking to make their first investment in Canada.
Serdar graduated from the Istanbul Dental Faculty in 1981. He has an MSc and a PhD from Bristol University (UK). He became a Professor at Istanbul University in 1997. He co-founded Istanbul Bilgi University in 1996, and served on the Board of University until 2010.
He published Vatan Newspaper and Vatan Magazine between 2002 and 2009. He established the Zeynep Mutlu Education Foundation with family and friends in 1999. The foundation established Kemer Schools, Maple Bear kindergarten programs and a Canadian High School Diploma Program.
Yasemin is an experienced professional who has been working more than 20 years in marketing and communications. She is a graduate of American Collegiate Institute in Izmir. Yasemin worked at the Cen Agency/Grey of Istanbul between 1992-2002 as a Vice President.
She has served many national and International companies, including: Alarko, Hyundai, Pinar, Proctor and Gamble, Hurriyet Estee Lauder, Nike, Clinique, Tuborg, Arcelik, Beko, and Telsim. She has been awarded with the 'Best Short' in the New York Marketing Festival. In 2002 she established her own agency, Tempus. She has served many companies at Tempus, such as: Saray Carpets, Tuborg, Trump Towers, DD Mortgage, Estee Lauder and many companies in Land Development and Education. She is also currently a student in the Graduate Gemologist program at GIA.
Kerem is the Managing Director at Milestone Capital Partners, a boutique direct investment firm in Turkey that was founded in 2007. Kerem was a founding member of the Dubai Investment Group (DIG), the investment office of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai.
Prior to becoming a manager at Hedge Fund of Funds and Member of the Investment Committee at DIG, Kerem served as a senior analyst for several direct investments. Prior joining to DIG at its inception, he was a senior trader at Citigroup, N.A. Treasury in Dubai, Kerem has also served as the Vice President of Board of Trustees at Bilgi University, he has a B.Sc. from Bentley University (USA) and an MBA from Warwick University (UK).