Arda Gurtuna - Partner

Q: Where is Arda based?

Arda is based in Barcelona, Spain .

Q: What languages does Arda speak?

Arda speaks the following languages: Turkish (Native), Spanish (Intermediate), English (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does Arda have?

Arda has at least 16 years of experience. During this time, Arda has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 9 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 10 months . Note that Arda may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Arda's latest experience?

Arda's most recent position is Partner at CIVITTA .

Q: What companies has Arda worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Arda has worked for CIVITTA and Ten Oaks Investment Group .

Q: Which industries is Arda most experienced in?

Arda is most experienced in industries like Banking and Finance , Retail , and Information Technology (IT) . Arda also has some experience in Professional Services , Transportation and Logistics , and Telecommunication .

Q: Which business areas is Arda most experienced in?

Arda is most experienced in business areas like Strategy and Planning , Information Technology (IT) , and Operations . Arda also has some experience in Investments, M&A & Venture Capital , Project Management , and Product Development .

Q: Which industries has Arda worked in recently?

Arda has recently worked in industries like Banking and Finance , Information Technology (IT) , and Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Arda worked in recently?

Arda has recently worked in business areas like Investments, M&A & Venture Capital , Operations , and Strategy and Planning .

Recommended expert

Barcelona, Spain

Experience

Jul 2021 - Present

4 years 9 months

Barcelona, Spain

Partner

CIVITTA

Led strategy, value creation and transformation practices across Western Europe and Nordics with +80 consulting professionals, driving 60% revenue and 30% headcount growth in CAGR in the last 4 years
Established and expanded private equity and portfolio company services from stand-alone due diligence service to e2e deal cycle offerings through both organic and inorganic development in Europe with +30 clients and +80% retention rate
Established and integrated strategy, value creation and digital transformation practices with +600 headcount; completed the acquisition of 4 consulting company acquisitions across Portugal, Sweden, Poland and Denmark and established new offices across +7 new countries
Expanded additional sector revenue and offerings across consumer goods, industrials, fintech, SaaS, logistics and professional services industries, leading +30% revenue and +40% profit improvement in each vertical
Delivered and led +80 projects across all verticals (inc. private equity) that includes corporate strategy, post-merger integration, carve out, due diligence, re-platforming, operating model design, digital transformation, execution support, advisory, go-to-market strategy, innovation management and cost optimization with 100% delivery success rate

Jan 2020 - Jun 2021

1 year 6 months

United States

EMEA Operating Partner (FTC)

Ten Oaks Investment Group

Established and led portfolio optimization, value creation and portfolio operations in the EMEA region for the organization which was followed by investment portfolio creation with +$200m portfolio size (indicative) with a target of underperforming companies in EBITDA and strong focus on carve-out, post-merger integration and carve-outs
Led +7 e2e M&A and divestiture initiatives and improved portfolio value by 40% in 18 months with a strong contribution of value creation activities across both existing and new portfolio companies
Improved and drove significant results across portfolio performance for exit readiness with +30% EBITDA and +25% revenue improvements across portfolio that includes industrials, consumer goods, SaaS and professional services organizations
Directed value creation activities, structured and established high functioning management teams and provided hands-on leadership in execution with continuous capability improvement beyond exit stage

Aug 2018 - Jan 2020

1 year 6 months

İstanbul, Turkey

Strategy and Business Development Director and Board Advisor

Borusan Holding

Mandated and improved underperforming portfolio value by 12% through both portfolio and operational value creation initiatives within 18 months
Designed and managed 5 year strategic and value creation plan for the conglomerate including +15 portfolio companies and served as an advisor to portfolio company boards and holding management
Designed operating model and established the venture capital structure with $50m size for long term portfolio diversification with 3 initial investments on mobility, data and AI
Optimized incubated portfolio companies through re-structuring, carve-out and scale-ups with a total valuation of +$80m, reaching +160% valuation growth in a year with no additional cash flow injection
Established transformation and value creation offices and led execution of +30 initiatives across growth, cost optimization, M&As and digital transformation
Led and completed e2e M&A and exit transactions across EMEA, China, Turkey and USA with total $500m deal value across logistics, steel, pipe and machinery sectors
Led cross portfolio synergy actions across steel, automotive, logistics and machinery for go-to-market design and cost optimization, resulting 2% portfolio value contribution

Jan 2018 - Aug 2018

8 months

London, United Kingdom

Private Equity Partner

Pladis Global

Mandated and designed post-acquisition value maximization for Godiva, McVities and United Biscuits, including re-positioning of Godiva brand and its supply chain and post-merger integration activities, resulting 12% portfolio value improvement
Led and delivered post-merger integration across technology and operations across 29 sub-companies in all continents with +50 locations, covering e-commerce, fin-tech, manufacturing, retail technologies, integration hubs and incubation centers
Completed the e2e deal completion and post-merger integration of Godiva into BAU state after budget over-run and non-completion of the post deal activities
Served as a board member and advisor for the management committee in technology transformation, value creation and start-up investments
Improved start-up portfolio value (VC vehicle) by 60% through scaling 2 companies’ revenue to $40m with 150% improvement and divestiture/carve-out of 3 underperforming companies

Jan 2016 - Jan 2018

2 years 1 month

İstanbul, Turkey

Head of Strategy and PMO

Hepsiburada.com

Created 3 year strategic and execution plan after $250m investment dedicated to value creation and transformation activities to reach 80% CAGR revenue growth and break-even EBITDA
Set up, led and scaled PMO (25), strategy (5), product (+100), data (15) and CX (+400) teams to execute strategic initiatives across commercial and operations
Designed and established new businesses (marketplace, last-mile delivery, payment systems, fashion and home) with P&L ownership, resulting in 80% of the overall YoY 120% CAGR revenue growth
Executed +50 transformation initiatives for EBITDA target, including consolidation of 7 warehouses, establishment of largest e-commerce warehouse in CEE and MEA, retail transformation, replenishment automation, AI-based pricing, omni-channel CX transformation, ERP and CRM re-platforming, business intelligence automation and new WMS and TMS implementations, resulting in 20% revenue growth and 1% EBITDA impact
Managed overall product portfolio and strategy (+20 scaled products) and product ownership of 4 units with 40 people; introduced 7 new products in 2 years resulting in 20% revenue impact
Managed investments of startup pipeline and led e2e M&A process for 6 startup acquisitions in SaaS, services, logistics and retail

Sep 2012 - Jan 2016

3 years 5 months

İstanbul, Turkey

Managing Consultant

IBM

Led and delivered strategy and transformation +30 projects across financial services, telco, retail, e-commerce and airlines across MEA, CEE, Nordics and Benelux with team sizes between 5 and +400
Delivered global scale digital transformation and operating model projects for sector leaders such as KLM, ING Bank, Citibank, Unicredit, Turkish Airlines, Carrefour, Etihad and Etisalat with project sizes between $100m and $300m
Delivered +30 pre- and post-deal projects across operating model, carve-out, post-merger integration, CRM and ERP re-platforming, business process reengineering, platform development, finance transformation, agile transformation, IT operations and strategy
Supported and initiated research activities for retail and technology practices
Awarded best project award in financial services in 2014 IBM globally for Citibank and selected as one of the top 3 consultants under 30 worldwide
Supported project sales activities in proposal and acted as an expert across GTM, omni-channel strategy, operating model design, BPM, PMO and application management
Mentored and provided career advisory for junior consultants in both functional and expertise paths

Sep 2010 - Sep 2012

2 years 1 month

London, United Kingdom

Consultant

McKinsey & Company

Delivered and advised on +15 high impact projects through analysis, design and implementation for corporate strategy, portfolio strategy, due diligence, go-to-market, transformation strategy and business model design in the UK
Focused on asset development, proposal design and project delivery in banking, private equity, retail, e-commerce and transportation

Jan 2010 - Aug 2010

8 months

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Marketing Specialist (Part Time)

Cadbury Inc.

Led online marketing performance improvement, analytics and strategy formation in the UK’s first pure online marketing campaigns, community building and engagement strategies
Initiated campaign optimization for the UK’s first successful online viral campaign, achieving highest engagement and reach KPIs by 2010

Jun 2008 - Aug 2008

3 months

İstanbul, Turkey

Sales and Marketing Intern

Coca Cola Company

Initiated market research for new channel development in offline segment and prepared value proposition report for enhancements
Analyzed channel performance, created market analysis outputs for performance optimization and developed sales funnel improvements

Industries Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.

Experienced in Banking and Finance (12 years), Retail (8 years), Information Technology (4.5 years), Professional Services (4.5 years), Transportation (3.5 years), and Telecommunication (3.5 years).

Banking and Finance

Retail

Information Technology

Professional Services

Transportation

Telecommunication

Business Areas Experience

The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.

Experienced in Strategy (15 years), Information Technology (8 years), Operations (7 years), Investments and M&A (6 years), Project Management (6 years), and Product Development (2 years).

Strategy

Information Technology

Operations

Investments and M&A

Project Management

Product Development

Summary

Senior operating and strategy leader with a proven track record of driving value creation, transformation, and growth across mid- and large-scale organizations.

Has a high impact in the EMEA region with a blend of private equity, consulting, and PE-backed portfolio companies experience. He combines strategic depth with hands-on operational leadership, including P&L ownership, portfolio operations, post-acquisition integration, turnaround, and exit readiness.

With experience across both B2B and B2C environments, he operated across more than 8 industries where he is known for pragmatic leadership, the ability to drive results in complex settings and make companies win.

Skills

Strategy And Corporate Development
Operational Transformation And Cost Optimization
Portfolio Operations And Value Creation
Operating Model Design And Execution
Post Merger Integration And Carve Out
Growth And Go-to-market Execution
Mergers And Acquisitions
Board Level Execution And Communication
Digital Transformation And Innovation
Governance And Advisory

Languages

Turkish

Native

Spanish

Intermediate

English

Elementary

Education

Sep 2009 - Dec 2010

University of Birmingham

MSc in Marketing · Marketing · Birmingham, United Kingdom · Distinction with 3,70/4,00; 3rd ranking out of 150

Sep 2005 - Jun 2009

TED Ankara College

High School · Mathemathics · Ankara, Turkey · High Honors; 3.90 out of 4.00

Sep 2005 - Jun 2009

Bilkent University

BSc in Business Administration · Business Administration · Ankara, Turkey · High Honors; 2nd out of 180

Profile

Created

January 2026

Last Update

February 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Arda based?

Arda is based in Barcelona, Spain.

What languages does Arda speak?

Arda speaks the following languages: Turkish (Native), Spanish (Intermediate), English (Elementary).

How many years of experience does Arda have?

Arda has at least 16 years of experience. During this time, Arda has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 9 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 10 months. Note that Arda may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Arda be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Arda would be well-suited for roles such as: Partner, EMEA Operating Partner (FTC), Strategy and Business Development Director and Board Advisor.

What is Arda's latest experience?

Arda's most recent position is Partner at CIVITTA.

What companies has Arda worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Arda has worked for CIVITTA and Ten Oaks Investment Group.

Which industries is Arda most experienced in?

Arda is most experienced in industries like Banking and Finance, Retail, and Information Technology (IT). Arda also has some experience in Professional Services, Transportation and Logistics, and Telecommunication.

Which business areas is Arda most experienced in?

Arda is most experienced in business areas like Strategy and Planning, Information Technology (IT), and Operations. Arda also has some experience in Investments, M&A & Venture Capital, Project Management, and Product Development.

Which industries has Arda worked in recently?

Arda has recently worked in industries like Banking and Finance, Information Technology (IT), and Professional Services.

Which business areas has Arda worked in recently?

Arda has recently worked in business areas like Investments, M&A & Venture Capital, Operations, and Strategy and Planning.

What is Arda's education?

Arda holds a Master in Marketing from University of Birmingham and a Bachelor in Business Administration from Bilkent University.

What is the availability of Arda?

Arda is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Arda?

Arda's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.