A snowy but welcoming start

– Barış, you’ve just joined the factory as a director this year. What were your first impressions of the plant and the team?

– I joined the team in January, but I’ve been working within the Beko group for more than 27 years, so I already knew this factory. I remember when it was built, and I had visited it before, although that was quite a long time ago – around 12 years back.

Coming here again now, I can clearly see how much has changed. The factory is much more modern, with a higher level of automation and significant renovations. Overall, I found it in very good condition.

At the same time, I already knew some of the people here from previous collaboration – especially from my time working at the washing machine factory in Turkey. So when I arrived and met everyone again, I felt at home almost immediately. I felt like I was already part of this organization. The team was very welcoming, which made the transition quite smooth. From a work perspective, it was actually easier than I expected.

– Was there anything that surprised you during your first days in Russia?

– Yes, definitely. I arrived in January, right during a period of heavy snowfall. I was expecting cold weather, of course, but I didn’t expect it to be that cold or snowy. But what impressed me even more was how life continues despite the weather. Coming from Istanbul, I know that when it snows there, everything slows down – fewer cars, fewer people outside, the whole city almost pauses.

Here, it’s completely different. Even during heavy snowfall, life goes on almost as usual. People continue working, traveling, commuting – everything functions very close to normal. That resilience was something I found really remarkable.

– Have you already started learning Russian?

– Yes, I started taking Russian lessons right after I arrived. I believe it’s very important to understand the language – not only for communication, but also to better understand the culture. I’m still at the beginning, but I’m making progress. I’m quite motivated, and my goal is to become fluent by the end of the year. Let’s see how it goes.

– Do you already use any Russian words in your daily communication?

– For now, just the basics – greetings like “hello”, “good morning”, “how are you”. It’s a start, but I’m working on improving. At the same time, I’ve noticed that some colleagues here already know a few Turkish words – simple ones like merhaba or afiyet olsun. Not everyone, of course, but it’s nice to see this kind of cultural exchange happening naturally.

– Do you feel any difference in work culture between Turkey and Russia?

– I’ve worked in different countries before – in Romania for about three years and in Italy earlier in my career – so I’ve seen how work cultures can vary.

But I would say that the work culture in Russia is quite similar to that in Turkey, so we understand each other well.

One thing I particularly appreciate is that people here say what they think, and they don’t try to hide their opinions. I really value this kind of transparency and direct communication – and it’s something I expect from the team as well.

From engineering to production and back

– You started your career as an R&D engineer and have worked both with hands-on processes and complex engineering tasks. What has been more challenging or more interesting for you?

– Yes, I started as an R&D engineer, but I was never someone who stayed only on the theoretical side. Whenever I was involved in a project, I always tried to go beyond design work. I spent time in the laboratory testing machines, and I went to the assembly line to see how the parts I designed were actually being assembled. That helped me understand real-life challenges – what works, what doesn’t, and where improvements are needed.

Later in my career, I worked in different departments, including production engineering and production itself. So over time, I got used to combining both perspectives – the intellectual side and the physical side of the work.

For me, there isn’t a strict separation between the two. Both are equally important, and they complement each other. That’s why my current role suits me well, because it requires responsibility across R&D, production, and quality.

– What about your approach to personal development? How do you keep growing professionally?

– There are several ways to develop yourself, and I think all of them are important.

Of course, learning from books or online resources plays a big role. Today, it’s easier than ever to access knowledge, and recent developments in AI have created even more opportunities for learning and self-improvement.

At the same time, interaction with people remains essential. Feedback from colleagues, peers, and managers is something you cannot replace with any book or tool. It helps you see things you might miss yourself.

Another important part is being honest with yourself. You need to understand your own strengths and weaknesses and ask yourself: what can I improve, and where do I need to grow? Without that self-awareness, progress becomes much harder.

What is the focus for 2026

– Let’s talk about the factory. What are your key goals for the first year?

– When I joined, the main plans for the year were already defined. Of course, I worked on them together with the team and with Beko’s top management, but the overall direction was clear from the beginning.

The priority is improving production efficiency. This is critical for increasing our competitiveness in the market. The second focus is on introducing new products. Competition is very strong, particularly from brands coming from the East. So we need to bring new models to the market with the right balance of features and cost.

And the third key area is quality. Even if you improve efficiency and launch new products, it doesn’t mean much if quality is not at the right level. We are already at a good level today, but there is always room for improvement.

– Can you already share anything about new product directions? Or is it still confidential?

– No, it’s not confidential. For example, on the washing machine side, we are currently completing an automated cabinet line. Along with that, we will introduce new models – the BM series. This project will help us improve cost competitiveness and, at the same time, bring new design elements and updated electronics to the market. It’s a very important step for us.

On the refrigerator side, we have just started a new project – the Combi 60. Right now, it’s in the feasibility stage, but once that is completed, we plan to move quickly with design and investment, with the goal of launching it by the end of the year.

– – That sounds ambitious. Another question: if someone from your team comes to you with an idea that sounds unrealistic or even a bit crazy at first, what would you do?

– I’m always open to ideas, even if they seem unusual at first. If we continue doing things in the same way, using the same methods, we cannot expect different results. New ideas – even the ones that seem difficult or not immediately applicable – are what drive progress.

Sometimes an idea may not be feasible today, but it could become possible in a few years, when technology evolves or new approaches appear. That’s why it’s important not to dismiss ideas too quickly. Every idea deserves attention.

There are no secondary roles

– There’s a common idea that “the right crew makes the difference.” Why, in your view, is the work of an employee on the assembly line no less important than that of a factory manager?

– We can design a very good product, but if we are not able to produce it efficiently, we will not achieve our goals. Or we may do everything well in production, but if the quality is not at the right level, again, the result will not be successful. That’s why every role in the factory is critical. The contribution of each employee directly impacts the outcome.

At the same time, it’s not only about doing your own job well. It’s also about collaboration. We need to support each other, share knowledge, and work as a team. Success is always a collective result, not an individual one.

– Can someone become a strong professional simply by doing what is required – clocking in, completing tasks, and leaving?

– The world is changing very fast, and this also applies to industry and technology. If someone only focuses on doing the same tasks in the same way every day, without questioning or improving, it becomes very difficult to grow.

Of course, doing your job well is important. But today it’s no longer enough on its own. You need to be curious, to look for better ways of working, and to understand what is happening around you. Self-development is no longer optional. If you don’t move forward, others will – and they will reach new goals faster.

What I see in the factory today is that many employees already understand this. They are trying to improve, to learn, to achieve more. That’s a very positive sign. But at the same time, I encourage everyone to challenge themselves even further – to go beyond what is expected and to continuously look for ways to do things better.

Encouraging curiosity

– Let’s talk a bit about your approach to life and decision-making. Are there principles you always rely on when making important decisions?

– The first thing I try to do is fully understand the situation. I need to know the details and feel confident about the subject.

The second principle is fairness. Every decision affects people – whether it’s employees, colleagues, or top management – so it’s important to consider how it will impact them. Being fair is not only about making the right choice, but also about being able to explain that choice clearly to everyone involved.

And the third thing is thinking beyond the short term. A decision might seem effective today, but if it creates problems in the future, it’s not the right one. I always try to look ahead and make decisions that will benefit the company not only now, but also in the mid- and long-term perspective.

– Are there things you would never compromise on?

– Yes, definitely. Ethics is something I would never compromise on. Being part of the Beko organization means following clear ethical principles, and for me, this is a strict boundary.

– Could you tell us a bit about your family?

– I’m married, and I have two children. At the moment, they are still in Romania, but we are planning their move to Russia this summer after the school year ends. My wife is a university professor; her field is English literature. Our daughter is 14, and our son is 7.

– What advice would you give to your children as they start thinking about their future careers?

– I would say that curiosity is one of the most important qualities. It’s important to keep learning and improving yourself at every stage of life, not only at the beginning of your career. At the same time, being honest and fair is just as important. These are the qualities that guide both professional and personal decisions.

In a way, the advice I would give to my children is not very different from what I would say to my colleagues, because these principles apply to everyone.

– And how do you usually spend your free time?

– Right now, one of my main hobbies is learning Russian. I take lessons every week, and I try to make steady progress. Besides that, I enjoy sports. I like walking, running, and playing tennis. I hope I’ll have more opportunities to continue that here as well.

– Finally, what would you like to say to your team?

– When I arrived, I found a very strong team – dedicated, experienced, and hardworking. That made a very good first impression on me. Today, we are all focused on our goals, and everyone understands how important they are for the factory and for the company as a whole. I’m very happy to be part of this team – I would even say, part of this family.

Of course, we are operating in a challenging global environment, and there are many external factors that affect our industry. But at the same time, we have a highly qualified team and strong support from headquarters.

I’m confident that if we continue working together in the same way, we will achieve even better results in the near future.