Şerafettin Karakış

Şerafettin Karakış

Secretary General & Chief Audit Executive

Şerafettin Karakış graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences at Istanbul University in 1994. He earned a Master's degree Theory of Public Finance from Istanbul University in 1995, and an Executive MBA from Sabanci University in 2008. Karakış also participated in the CFO Strategic Partner Program at The Wharton School and the Advanced Management and Leadership Program at the University of Oxford, Said Business School.

Between 1995 and 2006, Karakış worked as an Tax Inspector at the Ministry of Finance. In 2006, he joined Sabanci Holding as a Tax Consultant. From 2010 to 2021, he served as Director of Tax, Structure and Financial Regulations Management at Sabanci Holding. Until April 2025, he held the position of President-Tax, Accounting, Structure and Financial Regulations Management.

Karakış currently serves as Chairman of the Board at Tursa Sabanci Tourism and Investment Enterprises Inc. and Ankara International Hotel Management Inc. He is also Deputy Chairman at Sabanci Climate Technologies, Temsa Motor Vehicles and  Board Member at Cimsa Building Solutions B.V & DXBV Supervisory Board Member.

Additionally, he served as the Chair of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) Tax Working Group between 2019-2026.

As of January 15th 2026, he has been appointed as Member of the Board of Directors, Treasurer and President of the Economy and Finance Round Table at TÜSİAD.

Furthermore, as of 2026, he has become a member of TIDE (The Institute of Internal Auditors).

Şerafettin Karakış was appointed Secretary General of Sabanci Holding on April 30th, 2025 and also as Chief Audit Executive on January 1st, 2026.