Erdoğan Appoints New Cybersecurity Chief as Türkiye Bolsters Digital Defenses
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Türkiye is significantly strengthening its cybersecurity infrastructure with the appointment of Ümit Önal as the head of the newly established Cybersecurity Directorate. The move, formalized through a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, underscores the nation’s growing focus on protecting its digital assets and responding to evolving cyber threats.
New Leadership Across Key Institutions
Alongside the pivotal cybersecurity appointment, the decree also announced Muhammed Hüseyin Karabul as the deputy head of the State Archives Directorate and Davut Öksüz as a prosecutor at the Court of Accounts, signaling a broader effort to reinforce leadership within critical governmental bodies.
In a separate announcement, the Turkish Parliament revealed the selection of five new members to the Court of Accounts following elections held during its 10th session on Oct. 22, 2025. Eşref Edip Çiçekli and Necati Küçükaydın were chosen from within the Court of Accounts’ professional ranks, while Coşkun Çekiciler, İsmail Çobanoğlu, and Adnan Güran were appointed from the Treasury and Finance Ministry’s professional staff.
A Tech Veteran at the Helm of Cybersecurity
Önal brings a wealth of experience to his new role, boasting over two decades in the media, communications, and technology sectors. His career began at Turkuvaz Media Group, where he ascended to senior positions including general manager of ATV and head of advertising. He later held leadership roles at digitürk, serving as both general manager and a board member, before joining Türk Telekom in 2016. He ultimately became CEO of Türk telekom in 2019 and subsequently a board member, demonstrating a proven track record of executive leadership.
Establishing a National Cybersecurity Framework
The establishment of the Cybersecurity Directorate reflects Türkiye’s proactive approach to addressing the increasing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks. the new agency is tasked with tackling cyber threats, defining strategic goals, developing thorough action plans, and ensuring effective coordination across relevant sectors.
The Directorate will operate under the guidance of a new Cybersecurity Board, chaired by President Erdoğan himself. This board will include representatives from key ministries, including Interior, Justice, National Defense, transport and Infrastructure, and Industry and Technology, ensuring a whole-of-government approach to cybersecurity.
According to the decree, the Directorate will be responsible for:
- determining national cybersecurity policies and strategies.
- Preparing and implementing action plans to enhance cybersecurity.
- Supporting cybersecurity and information security projects.
- Fostering collaboration between public, private, and academic institutions.
building on Existing Cybersecurity Initiatives
This latest progress builds upon a roadmap for improving cybersecurity and protecting the country’s information infrastructure, which was initially announced by the government last year. The creation of the Cybersecurity Directorate and
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