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Taylan Türkölmez: “BES is Growing Stronger” introduces employer contributions, creating a strong framework
that ensures employees remain in the system until retirement.
Vice President Taylan Türkölmez emphasized that the 21- This means that income loss during retirement will decrease, and
year success of the Private Pension System (BES) stems from savings will grow further. As a sector, we have been working
its sustainability, stating: “The incentive mechanisms in BES on this transformation for a long time and have developed the
enhance trust in the system, facilitating its expansion. With the necessary instruments. We anticipate that the system will be
advantages it offers, the system provides a well-structured and implemented by the end of 2025 or early 2026. Additionally,
secure platform where individual savings are transformed into we are working on investment fund-backed products that will
long-term investments. As a sector, we are working through contribute to the development of the life insurance market.”
collective wisdom and collaboration to improve the system
further, continuing to strengthen our country’s savings habits. Özgür Obalı: “Earthquakes Have Increased Risk Perception
The total number of participants in the system, including OKS and Awareness”
(Automatic Enrollment System), has exceeded 17 million, while
the total fund size, including OKS and state contributions, has Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB) Secretary General Özgür
reached 1.4 trillion TL. These figures demonstrate both the high Obalı provided insights into the “Earthquake-Focused Insurance
level of participation in the system and the strengthening of fund Reform Agenda” prepared by the Association. Emphasizing
size.” . that the February 6 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş
heightened society’s risk perception and awareness regarding
Erol Öztürkoğlu: “TES Will Be One of the Key Pillars in Re- natural disasters, Obalı stated: “This situation has particularly
tirement” led to increased awareness in earthquake-related insurance
branches. Our Earthquake-Focused Insurance Reform Agenda
Board Member Erol Öztürkoğlu stated that the most significant offers solutions that will expand the sector’s impact and enhance
transformation in the Private Pension System (BES) will come the contribution of insurance to the national economy. We
with the introduction of the Supplementary Pension System believe that our reforms can be swiftly implemented through
(TES), saying: “The Supplementary Pension System (TES) the synergy created within the ecosystem. Through our reform
will be one of the key pillars in transitioning to a multi-tiered agenda, we aim to further strengthen the insurance ecosystem by
pension structure in Türkiye, just as in developed countries. TES integrating the new initiatives we have identified into decision-
makers’ agendas at the appropriate time.”

Senior Appointment at Bupa Acıbadem Sigorta: Aslıhan Duymaz Appointed as

General Manager

Bupa Acıbadem Sigorta, the only responsible for pricing and reporting
insurance company specialized in at Aegon Hayat ve Emeklilik A.Ş.,
health insurance, has accelerated its where she played an active role in
efforts toward achieving its 2030 goals establishing the company’s actuarial
with a senior-level appointment. With department, conducting actuarial
nearly 25 years of experience, Aslıhan modeling for international reporting,
Duymaz has been appointed as the and contributing to the company’s
General Manager of Bupa Acıbadem BI (Business Intelligence) reporting
Sigorta. Having served as Acting projects.
General Manager since May, the
experienced insurance professional will Between 2012 and 2017, she worked at
officially assume her role as General Aon Hewitt Türkiye as an actuary and
Manager on January 1, 2025. manager, overseeing pension, financial
services, and insurance services. From
Aslıhan Duymaz holds a Bachelor’s 2017 to 2021, she was Director at
degree in Mathematics from Boğaziçi KPMG Financial Services Advisory,
University and a Master’s degree in specializing in consulting and auditing
Actuarial Science from the University for the insurance sector. She continued
of London, City. She began her at KPMG as a Partner from 2022 to
professional career in 2000 at 2023.
Commercial Union Hayat A.Ş. Between
2004 and 2006, Aslıhan Duymaz In April 2023, she joined Bupa Acıbadem
worked in the Planning Department Sigorta as Deputy General Manager General Manager. As of January 1,
of Ak Emeklilik A.Ş., focusing on for Actuarial, Corporate Pricing, Data 2025, Aslıhan Duymaz will officially
actuarial modeling, budgeting, and Analytics, Data Technology Office, continue her role as General Manager
commission reporting. From 2009 to Medical Evaluation, and Claims. In of Bupa Acıbadem Sigorta.
2012, she served as Group Manager May 2024, she was appointed Acting