The SilkBridge Group management team
Ahmet Yıldırım, founder and CEO
Ahmet Kemal Yıldırım is a founder-led executive with over 20 years of experience spanning industrial operations, international trade, and cross-border logistics advisory. As CEO of The Silkbridge Group, he leads the firm’s strategic development and oversees complex brokerage engagements across multiple jurisdictions.
With an academic background in chemical engineering Mr. Yıldırım began his career in technical and operational roles within industrial and processing environments, where he developed a strong understanding of materials handling, production systems, and supply-chain risk. He later complemented his technical training with advanced business and executive programs focused on international commerce and management.
Since the early 2000s, Ahmet has held senior commercial and leadership positions with trading, logistics, and advisory firms operating across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. His work has focused on structuring cross-border transactions, managing long-term counterpart relationships, and navigating commercially sensitive environments characterized by regulatory complexity.
At Silkbridge, Ahmet brings together technical fluency and commercial judgment to support clients operating in challenging markets. He is recognized for his practical approach, regional insight, and ability to coordinate stakeholders across diverse legal and operational frameworks.
Skills & Expertise
• International Trade & Brokerage
• Logistics & Supply Chain Advisory
• Industrial & Commodities Markets
• Cross-Border Transaction Structuring
• Executive Leadership
Languages: Turkish (native), English (professional), Russian (working proficiency)
Gábor Kovács, Vice president - general manager
Gábor László Kovács is a senior operations and commercial executive with more than two decades of experience across regional management, international trade, and logistics coordination. As Vice President and General Manager at The Silkbridge Group, he is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and business development across Central and Eastern Europe and adjacent markets.
Gábor holds an academic background in economics and engineering-related studies, with early professional experience in manufacturing-adjacent and industrial services environments. This foundation informed his later transition into operational leadership roles supporting cross-border trade and supply-chain coordination.
Over the course of his career, Gábor has held management positions with logistics providers, trading firms, and advisory-oriented organizations operating across the EU, the Balkans, and parts of the former CIS. His responsibilities have included regional expansion initiatives, partner onboarding, operational restructuring, and coordination with external service providers in regulated and semi-regulated environments.
In his current role at Silkbridge, Gábor focuses on operational continuity, counterpart relationship management, and the implementation of internal processes designed to support complex, multi-jurisdictional engagements. He is known for his pragmatic leadership style, attention to detail, and ability to operate effectively in environments requiring discretion and adaptability.
Skills & Expertise
• Regional Operations Management
• International Trade & Logistics
• Partner & Counterpart Coordination
• Business Development (CEE Markets)
• Process & Risk Oversight
Languages: Hungarian (native), English (professional), German (conversational)
Marko Novak, Vice president - logistics
Marko Andrej Novak is a logistics and operations executive with over 15 years of experience supporting international transport, routing coordination, and supply-chain execution across European and adjacent markets. As Vice President of Logistics at The Silkbridge Group, he is responsible for overseeing end-to-end logistics planning, carrier coordination, and operational execution for complex client engagements.
Marko’s professional background includes formal training in transport management and technical logistics disciplines, complemented by early career roles in freight forwarding and operations support. He developed hands-on experience managing multi-modal shipments, coordinating third-party service providers, and responding to time- and compliance-sensitive delivery requirements.
In subsequent roles, Marko progressed into regional logistics management positions, supporting cross-border movements involving maritime, overland, and intermediary routing structures. His work has included optimizing routing strategies, managing external operators, and maintaining service continuity in environments subject to fluctuating regulatory and infrastructure conditions.
Since joining Silkbridge, Marko has focused on enhancing operational resilience, streamlining coordination with regional partners, and supporting the firm’s ability to execute logistics solutions in challenging and high-expectation environments. He is regarded internally for his operational fluency, responsiveness, and practical problem-solving approach.
Skills & Expertise
• International Logistics & Routing
• Freight Forwarding & Carrier Coordination
• Multi-Modal Transport Operations
• Operational Risk & Continuity
• Vendor & Partner Management
Languages: Slovenian (native), English (professional), Italian (working proficiency)