The leadership of Smartwings has undergone significant changes following the acquisition by the Turkish company Pegasus Airlines. According to the business registry, the company has transitioned from its previous structure, which included a board of directors and a supervisory board, to a new system featuring a management board consisting of three members. Salvatore Sciacchitano has been appointed as the chairman, with Mehmet Tevfik Nane serving as vice-chairman and Güliz Öztürk as a board member.
Experience of the new management team
In this new arrangement, any two members of the management board must act together on behalf of the company. Sciacchitano stands out as a prominent figure in the new management board. The Italian aviation expert previously led the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) from 2020 to 2025, a governing body of this UN organization comprising 36 member states. His extensive experience also includes roles at Italy’s civil aviation authority ENAC, representing Italy on the board of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and serving as the executive secretary of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) from 2010 to 2018.
The other two members of the management board come directly from the upper management of Pegasus. Mehmet Tevfik Nane has been the chairman of the board of the Turkish carrier since 2023, having previously served as its CEO for six years. Güliz Öztürk is currently the CEO of Pegasus Airlines.
These personnel changes come shortly after the acquisition of the Czech carrier. Emre Pekesen has taken over as the new CEO of Smartwings as of October 1, having previously worked at Pegasus, where he last led sales and network planning. Nur Karabacak, also a long-time manager at Pegasus, has been appointed as the new CFO.
Pegasus completed its acquisition of Czech Airlines and the Smartwings group on October 1, after obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals. The acquisition agreement was announced last December.
For the Turkish carrier, this marks a significant expansion of its operations in Europe. Following the merger, the two groups now operate a combined fleet of over 175 aircraft, with confirmed orders for an additional 140 planes.
Who is the new CEO?
Emre Pekesen, who began his career as cabin crew with Turkish Airlines, has taken on this role following the completion of the acquisition by Pegasus Airlines. Pekesen introduced himself to Smartwings employees in a YouTube video, which was made available to the media. Born in 1975 in Istanbul, he studied economics at Istanbul University and later earned an MBA.
Pekesen entered the aviation industry while still in college, starting as a flight attendant with Turkish Airlines. Over the years, he transitioned into various roles, spending a total of fourteen years with the national carrier, where he focused on sales and network planning.
Afterward, he worked for a travel group that included two airlines, where he was responsible for the aviation segment of the business. In 2010, he joined Pegasus Airlines, where he held several leadership positions. Before moving to Smartwings, he was the director of sales and network planning.
Future of Smartwings
Pekesen’s first address to employees was also his initial significant message regarding his approach to leading Smartwings. He emphasized that he does not come to the company believing he has all the answers. Instead, he aims to understand the various parts of the organization, its operations, and its employees.
“No one understands the company better than the people who bring it to life every day.”
he stated. He identified preserving Smartwings’ strengths and respecting the company culture, which has developed over the years, as one of his priorities.
He also spoke about potential changes that may follow the new ownership.
“I am not coming to Smartwings to change what makes it exceptional.”
Pekesen remarked. He believes that Pegasus and Smartwings can benefit from each other’s experiences and collaborate more closely in the future. However, he refrained from presenting specific projects, indicating that the right time for those discussions will come in the months ahead.
Pekesen’s appointment is one of the first visible changes following the sale of Smartwings to the Turkish Pegasus. The new owner has also filled the position of CFO, which has been taken over by another Pegasus manager, Nur Karabacak. Meanwhile, the long-time shareholders Jiří Šimáně and Roman Vik have stepped back from their roles.
