Yılma Karatuna
Istanbul
Summary
Corporate real estate professional with 15+ years of experience in global/multi-national corporations in the information technology and financial services industries. Demonstrated success in executing corporate real estate strategies, managing services and operations, and overseeing facility management. Experienced in coaching and leading diverse teams, ensuring business continuity, implementing cutting-edge technologies, and driving sustainability initiatives in workplace environments. Committed to strategic workplace planning and continuous process improvement to optimize organizational efficiency.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Founder
Corporate Real Estate Solutions and Consultancy (CRESC)
09.2023 - Current
- Established self-consultancy business in the field of corporate real estate combining the corporate end-user/client and service-provider experience and aiming to locate in the blue ocean with introducing new technologies and approaches to the market.
- Developed strong partnerships with other businesses to allow for collaboration and more significant opportunities for growth.
- Established a successful business by identifying market needs and developing innovative solutions.
- Executed international partnership contracts with regards to real estate development and workplace technology as well as sustainability/energy-saving.
- CRESC became exclusive partner of Endo Enterprises UK Ltd. ho manufactures energy saving additives for building/facility heating and cooling systems.
- CRESC became reseller of Spaceti in Turkiye, Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East which is a workplace technology software company from Czechia.
- CRESC partnered with Zenerate which is an artificial intelligence company from South Korea & USA that delivers optimal real estate development scenarios.
Director of Real Estate Services
Mastercard
01.2016 - 04.2023
- Real Estate Services Lead for Central Europe and High Growth Emerging Markets Divisions including the following countries: Turkiye, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Israel, Hungary, Czechia, Greece, Cyprus, Northern Macedonia, Bratislava, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia.
- Achieved $5.1M lease costs efficiency and $3.2M OPEX savings in the respective portfolio (19 countries, 30 offices).
- Oversaw lease and asset management, negotiations and renewals and tenant relations for properties under management.
- Returned offices safely to normal operations with measures during COVID-19 pandemic.
- Managed facilities operations team of 45 employees (10 managers) regionally.
- Led on-time and on-budget office fit-out projects (sq ft 27,000) while implementing the new technologies and sustainability initiatives and receiving green building certification.
- Coached team members on best practices in corporate real estate services, fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the organization.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to drive successful acquisition, development, and disposition of assets.
- Oversaw financial reporting for all managed properties, ensuring accuracy and timely submission to stakeholders.
- Managed fit-out project of joint venture ‘FinSec Lab.’ in Be’er Sheva, Israel which was Mastercard’s first financial security laboratory in the globe.
- Championed sustainability initiatives within the company''s portfolio, driving energy efficiency improvements that reduced operating costs.
- Moderated quarterly North America Real Estate – CFO review meetings overseas.
Facilities Manager
Cushman and Wakefield
04.2015 - 12.2015
- Local M&A Project Consulting Manager for Mastercard in Turkiye for their real estate portfolio and operations integration.
- Completed Facilities Management Outsourcing Project of Mastercard Turkiye comprised of 3 locations in 6 months by bundling and transitioning 39 suppliers under 1 main supplier.
- Taken additional Real Estate Services responsibilities such as fitting out and rebranding the Mastercard Payment Transaction Services Turkiye building in 1 month.
- Local M&A Project Consulting Manager for Mastercard in Turkiye for their real estate portfolio and operations integration.
- Responded to building emergencies and managed repairs.
- Conducted regular inspections of physical assets, identifying areas for repair or replacement before issues escalated into costly problems.
- Managed vendor relationships for cost-effective services, ensuring quality and timely completion of projects.
- Evaluated subcontractor performance for quality assurance purposes, maintaining strong partnerships while holding service providers accountable for their work.
- Improved facility efficiency by implementing preventive maintenance plans and streamlining work order processes.
- Maintained HVAC, temperature control, electrical and building automation systems.
- Supervised facilities staff of 13 in day-to-day activities.
Customer Service Manager
Johnson Controls
02.2012 - 04.2015
- Carried out integrated facility management contract for Deutsche Bank Turkiye.
- Managed and coached facilities and administrative team of 14 staff, organized annual trainings, monitored objectives against organizational KPI’s.
- Managed Corporate Real Estate Services related physical business continuity activities in Deutsche Bank’s data center: regular environmental equipment maintenance works, and annual shut-down exercises were implemented.
- Led Deutsche Bank’s corporate social responsibility project in a village elementary school in Istanbul: organized re-painting, implemented a kindergarten, and added a library to the school.
- Carried out integrated facility management contract for Deutsche Bank Turkiye.
- Resolved customer complaints while prioritizing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Developed strong relationships with key clients, ensuring their needs were met consistently and promptly.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
Corporate Real Estate Associate
Deutsche Bank
05.2010 - 11.2011
- Supported Corporate Real Estate Services Department Vice President in all real estate aspects in the respective region.
- Managed dispersed facility management contracts for Deutsche Bank Turkiye.
- Participated in the ‘Facility Management Services Outsourcing Project’ and leveraged the suppliers transition process which helped budget efficiency at 35%.
- Re-arranged the layout of the Bank’s Disaster Recovery Center.
- Supported Corporate Real Estate Services Department Vice President in all real estate aspects in the respective region.
- Conducted thorough due diligence on properties before advising the Client to proceed with offers or negotiations.
Education
MBA - Executive MBA
Bahcesehir University
Istanbul, Turkey01.2020
Master of Science - Disaster and Emergency Management
Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul, Turkey06.2009
Bachelor of Science - Urban and Regional Planning
Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul, Turkey06.2007
Skills
- Corporate Real Estate Management
- Workplace Strategy
- Facilities Management
- Project Management
- Lease Transactions Management
- Coaching and People Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Vendor and Contract Management
- Executive Consultancy
- Key Account Management
- Sustainability
- Ethics and integrity
Languages
Turkish
Native language
English
Proficient
C2
Certification
- Master of Corporate Real Estate (MCR) - CoreNet Global - 2023 September
Achievements
- Received numerous appreciation and thanks letters from internal stakeholders at Mastercard (2016-2023).
- Winner of Mastercard Payment Transaction Services Turkiye ‘New Ideas Contest’ (2016).
- Received ‘Certificate of Honor’ from Deutsche Bank for leading the corporate social responsibility project in 2013.
- International and National Symposium Papers in Disaster and Emergency Management (2008-2010).
Timeline
Founder
Corporate Real Estate Solutions and Consultancy (CRESC)
09.2023 - Current
Director of Real Estate Services
Mastercard
01.2016 - 04.2023
Facilities Manager
Cushman and Wakefield
04.2015 - 12.2015
Customer Service Manager
Johnson Controls
02.2012 - 04.2015
Corporate Real Estate Associate
Deutsche Bank
05.2010 - 11.2011
- Master of Corporate Real Estate (MCR) - CoreNet Global - 2023 September
MBA - Executive MBA
Bahcesehir University
Master of Science - Disaster and Emergency Management
Istanbul Technical University
Bachelor of Science - Urban and Regional Planning
Istanbul Technical University
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