Oktar AKIN

I go by the name Oktar, which in Turkish means 'the one who shoots arrows’ or 'archer'. My zodiac sign is Taurus, so with this data given, it's easy to predict my natural inclination towards being bullish in markets either stock or advertising.

I strongly believe that the fusion of creativity and blockchain technologies presents vast opportunities for shaping the future of advertising, commerce, art, and society as a whole.

With over 21 years of experience in the global advertising industry and a degree in Cartoon & Animation, I have worked for various advertising agencies in Istanbul, Singapore, and Amman.

I graduated from Tarsus American College. After getting my degree in Cartoon & Animation in 2002, I started my career at McCann Erickson Istanbul as an Art Director. In 2008, I worked at McCann Erickson Singapore as a Senior Art Director before returning to McCann Erickson Istanbul, as the Creative Director. Then I moved to Manajans/JWT Istanbul as the Executive Creative Director. Stayed there for about a year and joined Leo Burnett Istanbul as the Creative Director in 2011. In 2018, I attended VMLY&R Amman as the Creative Director. In 2020, I returned home and started working as the Creative Director at Karpat Independent Advertising Agency. I recently joined Puck Global Advertising Agency as the Creative Director.

Having worked in 3 distinctive markets in 2 continents, I led groundbreaking campaigns for clients like Samsung, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, P&G, Orange Telecom, Jeep, KFC, Nescafé, HSBC, Shell, Fiat, Bank of Jordan and many others.

Throughout my career, I have won more than 100 awards with my teammates, including Cannes Lions, D&AD, New York Festivals, Epica, Eurobest, Effie, London International Awards, The Andy Awards, Golden Drum, as well big local festivals.

Under my creative lead, Leo Burnett Istanbul was The Most Awarded Creative Agency of Turkey, in The Gunn Report. Epica Awards honoured Leo Burnett Istanbul as The Most Creative Agency in Turkey.

“Let the world change you. Then you can change the world.”