Dr. Ömer Özkan, SOCAR Turkey's Corporate Quality Group Manager, was awarded the title of "2025 European Quality Leader" by the European Organization for Quality (EOQ). This award, given to only one individual each year, was presented to a Turkish executive for the first time in 2025.

Dr. Özkan, nominated as Türkiye's candidate by the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE), received his award from EOQ President Patrick Mongillon and EOQ Secretary General Ulf Gustavsson at the 66th EOQ Congress held in Oslo, Norway, on June 12-13. This ceremony brought together quality professionals from across Europe.

The European Quality Leader Award is presented to executives who have made significant contributions to the field of quality management and achieved societal benefits. This award comprehensively evaluates not only corporate success but also criteria such as leadership skills, sustainable practices, social impact, and professional recognition.

The award's evaluation process is rigorous and multifaceted. Candidates are evaluated based on four main criteria:

•    Professional achievements: Tangible achievements and contributions made by the candidate in the field of quality management throughout his/her career.

•    Leadership skills: Ability to inspire, guide and provide vision to their teams and industry. 

•    Professional recognition: Respect and recognition in the field, both nationally and internationally. 

•    Tangible success results: Measurable and demonstrable results of projects and practices 

•    implemented under your leadership. (Projects within the scope of sustainability, innovation, digital issues, etc.)

According to the press release, “The fact that Dr. Ömer Özkan was deemed worthy of this award by meeting all of these rigorous criteria demonstrates that his deep expertise and leadership qualities in this field are recognized internationally. Özkan, who has an academic career based in mechanical engineering, strengthened this technical background with an MBA and a PhD. Currently serving as the Corporate Quality Management Group Manager at SOCAR Türkiye, Özkan has gained extensive field experience by previously holding key positions in diverse and critical sectors such as automotive, natural gas, service, and manufacturing. Never abandoning his academic side, Özkan continues to pass on his knowledge and experience to younger generations by teaching at numerous universities. Numerous scientific studies published nationally and internationally prove his intellectual depth in this field. 

“Furthermore, technical qualifications such as ISO lead auditor, UNDP energy manager, and Lean 6 Sigma certification reinforce his competence in the field. Özkan plays an active role not only within his own institution but also on numerous platforms such as the Turkish Quality Association (KalDer), TSE Technical Committees, and Kaizen evaluation boards. By acting as an evaluator in quality awards conducted in line with the EFQM model, it directly contributes to the development of Türkiye's quality ecosystem.”

For more information, visit https://www.eoq.org/home/.