Okay Cem is a seasoned IT executive with over 25 years of experience leading enterprise technology initiatives across diverse organizations. As Chief Information Officer at OIST, he brings both deep experience and a practical skill set in digital transformation, cloud strategy, enterprise platforms, cybersecurity, and IT governance. He plays a key role in shaping "One OIST" by guiding the institution’s IT and cyber strategy, and ensuring its capabilities are scalable, sustainable, and future-ready.
Before joining OIST, Okay held leadership roles in data and analytics, IT operations, and governance. He has helped organizations adopt best practices using COBIT, ITIL, and PMI frameworks, and has contributed to a wide range of initiatives—from strengthening cybersecurity to modernizing enterprise architecture. His career spans consulting and corporate roles at KPMG Consulting and Novartis/Alcon, where he played a key role in ERP rollouts and data migration efforts tailored to Japan’s unique regulatory and business environment.
Okay holds an MBA from GLOBIS University (Japan) and a BSc in Computer Engineering from Ege University (Türkiye). He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and an active member of PMI, ISACA, and IEEE. Fluent in English and Japanese, he is known for his servant leadership style—empowering teams to collaborate, experiment, and deliver meaningful solutions in complex, multicultural settings.
