New banking watchdog chief vows to work in line with ‘New Turkey’

ANKARA

Mehmet Ali Akben has been appointed the president of Turkey’s banking regulator (BDDK), according to a posting in the Official Gazette on May 15.

The decision to appoint Akben was taken on March 30, according to the report, which did not specify why the announcement was made later. 

Former BDDK chief Mukim Öztekin stepped down on Nov. 12, 2014 for health reasons. He passed away at the age of 50 on May 2 this year. 

Akben, 54, previously served as a board member of Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). He headed several Islamic lenders over around 30 years, including Kuveyt Türk and Türkiye Finans, before moving to the TMSF.       

Akben has vowed to pursue policies “on the road to becoming ‘New Turkey.’”

“We’ll see new policies in the sector in line with the state policies on the road to becoming ‘New Turkey,’” he said, as posted on the Twitter account of state-run Anadolu Agency’s finance unit.  

Akben added that he would head a “stronger BDDK” that will support production and manufacturing, as well as being inclusive for all sectors, with planned new Islamic lenders.