Kemal Özgür Demirtaş, born on August 12, 1975, in Ankara, is a prominent Turkish financial professor, engineer, academician, and author. With a remarkable academic journey and extensive contributions to the field of finance, Özgür Demirtaş has established himself as a leading figure in the industry. In this article, zatrun.com delves into his life, academic career, and notable achievements, providing an in-depth examination of his impactful work in the financial realm.
Life and Academic Career
Özgür Demirtaş was born in Ankara and hails from diverse ancestral backgrounds, including Şanlıurfa Siverekli, Hadidi tribe, and Selanik migration. After completing his a primary education in Salihli, Manisa, and high school education at İzmir Atatürk High School, he secured a position among the top 50 students in the university entrance exams, leading him to pursue his studies at Boğaziçi University’s Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, from which he graduated in 1998.
Driven by his passion for finance, Özgür Demirtaş pursued his finance doctorate at Boston College, completing his studies in 2003 and earning his Ph.D. in finance at the young age of 27. He embarked on his academic career as an assistant professor at Baruch College, where he excelled in the Finance Department and later at the Business School, earning recognition as one of the best teaching faculty members. In 2005, he was honored with the “Distinguished Teaching Medal” for being the best teaching faculty member across all major disciplines and faculties. His research was consistently rewarded by the City University of New York for six years starting from 2004.
In 2007, Özgür Demirtaş achieved the title of associate professor at the City University of New York, securing a permanent academic position. He also taught at NYU-Stern School of Business. In 2010, based on evaluations by over 10 million students in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Scotland, he ranked within the top 20 among one million professors in terms of teaching excellence.
Demirtaş’s scholarly works have been published in renowned academic journals such as Management Science, Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Monetary Economics, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Review of Finance, and Journal of Business & Economic Statistics. He has published over 35 academic papers and authored a book on private equity funds, published by Academic Press.
Notable Achievements and Current Engagements
In September 2012, Demirtaş left his position in the United States and joined Sabancı University as the Chair of Finance. His contributions at Sabancı University led to the acquisition of the Marie-Curie European Research Fund. He also served as the Founding President of the Center of Excellence in Finance, established at Sabancı University. Additionally, he held positions such as a Board Member of Akbank and a Founding Board Member of FODER, Turkey’s first financial literacy association.
Presently, Demirtaş provides consultancy services to various large companies and holdings. He actively participates as an honorary speaker in events and serves as a panelist in the activities of think tanks in Turkey, the United States, and Europe. Moreover, he is an angel investor in several sectors, particularly in the biotechnology industry.
Demirtaş is married to Neslihan Küçükoğlu Demirtaş and is a proud father of one child. He also runs a YouTube channel called “Prof. Dr. Özgür Demirtaş,” where he shares insightful content on various topics.
Kemal Özgür Demirtaş’s journey as a renowned financial professor, engineer, academician, and author is marked by exceptional achievements and valuable contributions to the field of finance. Through his expertise, research, and teaching excellence, he continues to make a significant impact on the finance industry and inspire aspiring professionals in the field.
