The former Kanal D International executive has joined Hacıyatmaz Group at a pivotal time in which the company is seeking to expand its footprint in different areas, including long-form TV, digital, vertical and short-form content.
After seven years at Kanal D International, Selim Türkmen, former Director of Sales of the Turkish distributor, has joined Hacıyatmaz Group, the company founded and led by Tayfur Sonkaya, that offers, with its many divisions, a broad variety of services, including high-end content production, with the fantastic track-record of Yeşil Yapım.
As the new director of Sales and Business Developement, Türkmen will seek to grow Hacıyatmaz business around the world, pursuing “long-term partnerships” and taking full advantage of the company “willingness to try new things and push creative boundaries.”
Can you share with us what attracted you about this new opportunity?
What drew me to this role was the chance to work with such an experienced team at a company that’s widely respected both in Turkey and internationally. Hacıyatmaz Group is not only known for its strong track-record in production but also for its willingness to try new things and push creative boundaries.
What does your new role entail?
My role focuses on International Business, including content distribution, co-productions, and strategic partnerships. It’s about connecting our projects with the right partners around the world and exploring new opportunities for growth.
Can you give us an overview of Hacıyatmaz Group’s different services, and where you see the biggest untapped potential at the moment?
We’re active across several areas: long-form TV dramas, digital-first content for platforms like YouTube, and vertical/short-form series. We also work on commercial productions, from branded content to influencer collaborations and AI-supported creative solutions.
Right now, we see major potential in the vertical and short-form series space. While there are already some players in the field, it’s still a young and evolving market, which leaves room for innovation. With our experience and ability to produce high-quality content efficiently, we believe Turkish producers like us are well positioned to become global leaders in this segment.
As a producer, Yeşil Yapım has been behind some of the biggest Turkish hits in recent years. How do you use that legacy to shape the future of the company?
It gives us a strong foundation. In a growing and increasingly competitive industry, having a proven track record is a big advantage. Our past successes show that we deliver both quality and commercial results. I’d even say that in the world of daily Turkish drama, we’re one of the top —if not the top— producers. That legacy opens doors and gives confidence to everyone we work with.
What’s the latest update on Narin?
Narin is fully developed and ready to go. We’re scheduled to begin production this summer, and we’re very excited about its potential. It’s a project that reflects our strengths as a company: strong storytelling, efficient production, and international appeal.
While the group is well known in the industry, do you think there’s a need to spotlight your work more widely to attract bigger opportunities?
Success naturally leads to more visibility, and yes, there’s always value in making your achievements more known. But for us, the focus is consistency. We believe long-term success comes from staying true to what we do best and growing organically. That said, when the right moment comes, we’ll be ready to step into the spotlight in a bigger way.
Mr. Sonkaya mentioned the importance of building long-term partnerships. What does the ideal partner look like for Hacıyatmaz Group?
Long-term partnerships are at the heart of our business model, and it’s one that has served us very well. We value fairness, transparency, and mutual trust. The ideal partner is someone who shares those values and sees the creative and commercial value of high-quality Turkish drama. We’re not just looking for deals, we’re looking for real collaboration.
