C. Müjdat Altay

Born in 1954 in Turkey, received BSc from Istanbul Technical University in Electronics & Communication Engineering, MSc. in Electronics & Communication Engineering from Bosphorus University.

Started professional life as Research Assistant at TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), joined Netas as R&D Engineer in 1981. During his 16 years at R&D contributed to the successful growth of Netas R&D from 10 to 650 engineers. Altay moved to Nortel Networks UK plc in 1997 to return Netas in 1998 as Alternate Operator Sales Leader. Received Nortel's "Masters" Award in 2001 due to his contribution in the development and growth of the company's business with Alternate Operators. In 2002, appointed as Vice President, Turk Telekom Sales at Netas.

In December 2004, he was appointed as Netas CEO.Since then has led the efforts to transform the company from a product provider to a systems integrator by leveraging the innovation capabilities of the organization. In the last ten years, Netaş has implemented large-scale projects that transformed the way of operation in several sectors while increasing its R&D investments. As a result, Netaş became the largest systems integrator in Turkey and its sales has increased to $ 330M in 2016 from $75M in 2006.

Altay believes that efforts in the R&D and innovation would play a pivotal role in helping increase the level of welfare in the country and, therefore, gives priority to ensuring the sustainability of such efforts. He is also member of many professional organizations. Altay has been involved in the National Innovation Initiative (NII), served at the boards of various organizations including Electronic Industry Professional Committee of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, YASED (International Investors Association) between 2009 and 2015, where he also acted as Chairman of YASED’s R&D Working Group.

Altay has also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of TESID during January 2010 - 2015, where he gave particular focus to ensuring that the electronics industry receives priority and to identifying strategies and practices that will help develop SMEs operating in this industry.

Altay was one the founding members of the Digital Turkey Platform (DTP) and Turkey Science Centers Foundation. He serves as board member at Turkish Informatics Foundation, and at the board of Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV) and as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Technology Awards (XI –XII) organized by TUBITAK, TTGV and the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD).

Leading the establishment of Netaş Wesley Clover Technology Fund together with Sir Terry H. Matthews in 2013, Altay supports to build platforms for the early stage technology startups that offer high value added products in Turkey.

Altay was re-elected to the Chairmanship of TESID and joined the Executive Board of Turkey – China Business Council under the umbrella of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) in 2018.

C. Müjdat Altay is married with two children.