Savas Cizmeci

Savas is heading Real Estate operations for Microsoft in the Middle East and Africa region since June 2021. He is responsible for delivering the full life cycle of real estate activities (plan, design, build/lease, operate, maintain) in the 21 countries that Microsoft is operating. Savas has 15+ years’ work experience in construction, project management & real estate portfolio management in the emerging and developed markets of Middle East, Africa, Russia, and Turkey.

He is also a board member for the CoreNet Global Middle East chapter which is CoreNet Global is a non-profit association that is aiming to advance the practice of Corporate Real Estate (CRE) through professional development opportunities, publications, research, conferences, designations, and networking in 46 local chapters and networking groups globally.

Prior to his role at Microsoft, Savas took integral part of the real estate transformation of Citibank in the MEA region which consists of 70+ premises with over 30+ projects in 26 countries within 9 years. He has shown leadership skills to execute diverse portfolio management activities which includes offices, branches and data centers equalling to 1 Million sqft area. Savas contributed Citi’s ESG agenda by certifying 12 premises with LEED.

Savas started his career in Moscow, Russia at Tendering & Business Development team of an international contractor. He took part of the bidding process for various projects such as shopping malls, office complexes, residential buildings, hotels, and light industrial projects with total value of $5 Billion.

During his 15+ years’ experience, Savas developed his skills on analysing investments, making financial assessments, and making recommendations to C level on key real estate investments.

Savas holds Mechanical Engineering and executive MBA degrees. He attended various management and economy related programs in Yale University, London School of Economics, China Europe International Business School, and Vienna Technology University.

Savas is One Young World ambassador since 2018 and Junior Achievement Mentor since 2013 as a part of his passion of giving back to the community. He is also passionate about sailing, basketball and travelling around the world.

He is married, with one daughter.