IKV’s new Chairman and Board of Directors which will serve between the years 2013-2015 were elected during IKV’s 51st General Council, held on the 16th January 2014. Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Mevlut Çavuşoğlu and Eurochambers Vice-Chairman and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu also participated to the General Council’s meeting. Opening speeches were delivered by Minister Çavuşoğlu, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu and outgoing Chairman of IKV, Prof. Dr. Haluk Kabaalioğlu. Speakers noted the importance of the EU anchor for internal reforms in Turkey and reiterated the role of the IKV in contributing to the development of Turkey’s relations with the EU.

Following the General Council, the newly-elected Board of Directors held its first meeting and appointed Omer Cihad Vardan as the Chairman.

The new Board of Directors is taking over its duty at a time when the recent developments occurring in our country show the importance of the EU project and its objectives. The new Board of Directors will also celebrate in 2015 IKV’s 50th anniversary.

Ömer Cihad Vardan is the tenth chairman of our Foundation which was founded in 1965 and whose history goes hand-in-hand with the history of Turkey- EU relations.

Ömer Cihad Vardan, born in 1962, graduated from Istanbul Technical University’s Industrial Engineering Department in 1983. In 1986, he completed his graduate studies in the Ohio State University in the Department of Production Engineering. Ömer Cihad Vardan participated as a volunteer in a number of civil society organisations and business enterprises.

Between the period covering the years of 2008 and 2012, Ömer Cihad Vardan, served as MUSIAD’s fourth General Secretary. He currently continues to be member of the Human Rights Committee of Turkey since 2012.