Who is Buğra Kavuncu, the İYİ Party's Istanbul Mayoral Candidate?

Buğra Kavuncu is a politician and businessman born in Ankara in 1973. He currently serves as the Chief Advisor to the Chairman of the İYİ Party.

Kavuncu began his education in Ankara, attending Edmenton Primary School, Ankara Çizmeci Primary School, and Ankara Atatürk High School, before graduating from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Ankara University.

After graduating in 1997, he began his career in the field of construction chemicals in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He achieved success in a short time through the knowledge and experience he gained in sales, marketing, and investment. In 1997, he founded the company USTA LLP, making significant contributions to the growth of the construction chemicals sector in Central Asia. He successfully sold his company in 2008.

In the corporate world, Kavuncu held significant positions as the General Manager of BASF Construction Chemicals Central Asia LLP and General Manager of BASF Central Asia. During his time in Central Asia, he became fluent in Russian, English, and Kazakh.

Kavuncu moved to Switzerland in 2010 and to Turkey between 2012 and 2016, serving as the CEO of BASF Türk Kimya until 2016.

Buğra Kavuncu began his political career in the İYİ Party in 2018, where he served as the Istanbul Provincial Chairman and Party Spokesperson. In 2023, he was appointed as the Chief Advisor to the Chairman responsible for the Election Campaign. He will serve as the İYİ Party's Istanbul mayoral candidate in the 2024 Turkish local elections. He is also the son of Orhan Kavuncu and the nephew of Enver Altaylı.