Avi Alkas

Chairman of the Board, JLL, Turkey

With more than 25 years of industry experience, Avi Alkas is a trailblazer in the commercial real estate market. He is personally responsible for introducing the “mall” concept to Turkey in the late 1980’s and set the terms and standards for retail leasing, shopping center management and concept development in Turkey. Earlier in his career, he initiated and developed projects like Akmerkez, Carousel and the İzmir Outlet Center. In 1997, Avi established his own consulting company (Alkas CS Management) and then went on to develop a whole string of projects including Maxi, Karada Marina, Olivium, Tepe Nautilus, "Optimum, Armada, KayseriPark, KoruPark, İstinyePark and Kent Meydanı.

In 2008, Avi’s firm was acquired by Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL), a leading American real estate services and investment management firm, and the second largest firm of its kind in the world with total assets in excess of $10billion. Following the merger, Avi Alkas was appointed Chairman of JLL Turkey.

Relying on his broad knowledge of the local retail/real estate market combined with the strong investment base of JLL, Avi went on to leave his imprint on projects like Cevahir, Antares, ViaPort, Ronesans SC Projects, Ozdilek, SankoPark, MalatyaPark, DemirPark, Kozzy, Afium, KentPark, GebzeCenter, Vialand, Zorlu and the Family Mall Erbil.

With numerous accolades to his credit and professional titles of distinction, Avi Alkas is also a member of the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) and a member of its European Advisory Board where he has served as Jury Chair of the esteemed ICSC European Shopping Centre Awards. He was also honoured with the ICSC Distinguished Service Award in 2010 and is a regular faculty member of the ICSC J.T. Riordan School for Professional Development.

Avi Alkas graduated from Robert College in 1975 and was awarded an MA degree in Business Administration from Bosphorus University in 1981.