Erhan Şengül

International business leader with more than 15 years of leadership experience across government institutions, state-owned enterprises and international commercial organisations. Currently serving as Head of International Projects at Turkish Petroleum International Company (TPIC), coordinating the commercial execution of cross-border crude oil and refined petroleum product programmes within politically sensitive, government-backed cooperation frameworks. His professional experience spans international business, procurement leadership, commercial operations and government affairs.

He has successfully led multidisciplinary teams, managed complex stakeholder environments and coordinated international projects involving public institutions, state-owned enterprises and international business partners. Recognised for strategic thinking, commercial judgement, integrity and the ability to build trusted relationships across cultures while delivering results in complex international business environments.

Head of International Projects at Turkish Petroleum International Company (TPIC) (2025-01 – Present)

Coordinates the commercial execution of cross-border crude oil and refined petroleum product programmes within politically sensitive, government-backed cooperation frameworks. Supports international trading programmes covering approximately 100 million barrels of crude oil, 3.5 million MT of gasoline, 3.5 million MT of gasoil and 200,000 MT of fuel oil annually, ensuring commercial governance, executive alignment and timely transaction execution.

• Lead a team of 3 professionals responsible for commercial documentation, tender submissions and transaction files.
• Review and approve commercial documentation before submission through the executive approval process.
• Represent the Department Manager during delegated periods of absence and ensure operational continuity.
• Coordinate approximately 30 international tender procedures annually.
• Maintain commercial coordination with approximately 7 international business partners across multiple jurisdictions.
• Coordinate the commercial preparation and execution of international crude oil and refined petroleum product transactions.
• Support the continuous improvement of commercial workflows through close cooperation with the Finance Department.
• Coordinate activities between executive management, commercial departments and international business partners.
• Liaise with government institutions and public authorities where required.
• Ensure effective communication between internal stakeholders and international counterparties throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Head of Materials Procurement at Turkish Petroleum International Company (TPIC) (2023-11 – 2024-12)

Led the Materials Procurement Division within the Procurement Department, ensuring the operational execution of procurement activities supporting upstream exploration, drilling and production operations. Responsible for procurement governance, supplier management, internal approval processes and the timely execution of procurement programmes across the organisation.

• Led the Materials Procurement Division, providing disciplinary and functional leadership to 20 procurement professionals within a Procurement Department of approximately 50 employees.
• Managed employee performance, personnel development and operational planning while coordinating procurement activities across technical, operational and commercial departments.
• Ensured business continuity through effective workload planning, resource allocation and cross-functional collaboration.
• Managed the operational execution of an annual procurement portfolio of approximately EUR 200 million.
• Oversaw approximately 2,000 procurement processes annually, including around 500 competitive tender procedures.
• Exercised delegated signing authority within defined approval limits before escalation to the Department Manager and General Manager.
• Reviewed and approved procurement documentation, ensuring compliance with procurement policies, governance standards and internal approval procedures.
• Maintained commercial relationships with approximately 60 international suppliers supporting upstream oil and gas operations.
• Reviewed and approved supplier performance evaluations prepared by the procurement team.
• Represented TPIC during supplier visits in Houston, Texas, auditing strategic suppliers and evaluating new technologies and potential investment opportunities.
• Contributed to the evaluation of new technologies, supplier qualification and procurement decisions supporting upstream operations.

Client Relationship Manager (Leiter Kundenberater) at Allianz Beratungs- und Vertriebs AG (2020-01 – 2022-10)

Managed and developed a personal portfolio of private and corporate clients, providing comprehensive financial and insurance advisory services across the full Allianz product portfolio. Responsible for developing long-term client relationships, expanding business opportunities and supporting sustainable growth through a network of referral partners and intermediaries.

• Managed and developed a portfolio of approximately 600 private and corporate clients, delivering tailored financial and insurance solutions.
• Advised clients across the full Allianz product portfolio, ensuring long-term relationship management and customer retention.
• Developed new business opportunities through proactive client acquisition and consultative sales.
• Managed and supported a network of approximately 15 referral partners and intermediaries.

Expert – International Cooperation & German-Speaking Countries at Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) (2011-07 – 2017-01)

Coordinated international cooperation programmes on behalf of YTB, a government institution operating under the Prime Ministry of the Republic of Türkiye. Coordinated cross-border projects, conferences and bilateral initiatives involving government institutions, universities and civil society organisations across Europe and Türkiye.

• Coordinated and supported approximately 15–20 international projects, conferences, bilateral meetings and official events annually.
• Represented YTB at international conferences, official meetings and cross-border cooperation programmes.
• Coordinated collaboration between government institutions, universities, NGOs and international partners.
• Worked closely with senior government stakeholders, including the office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye.

Master of Arts (M.A.) in International Relations – Ufuk University

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science – Leibniz University Hannover

Guest Student in International Relations – Ankara University – Faculty of Political Science

Erasmus Mundus Programme in International Relations – Anadolu University