Global Ports Holdings (GPH) has appointed Saffet C. Tinaztepe as executive vice president, capital markets and strategic projects.

Starting on June 16, he will focus on funding the company’s growth, optimizing its capital structure, credit rating strategy and expanding relationships with capital providers, based out of New York.

He will also lead strategic initiatives of Chairman and CEO Mehmet Kutman, according to a press release.

“As the scale of GPH’s infrastructure platform continues to increase, adding Saffet to our team brings broad perspective from across a diverse range of infrastructure sectors and markets. 

“The breadth of his experience combined with his track record of success in attracting capital to our industry make him key to the sustained growth of the GPH global franchise,” commented Kutman and Jan Fomferra, Chief Financial Officer.

Tinaztepe spent over 15 years at Citigroup, most recently serving as managing director and head of the North America team for the Infrastructure Finance and Capital Solutions group.

With experience in transportation, digital, energy, social/P3 and sports-entertainment infrastructure, he developed a specialty in cruise infrastructure and established it as a standalone asset class, said GPH.