Global Ports Holdings, the world’s largest cruise port operator, today announced the appointment of Saffet C. Tinaztepe as Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Strategic Projects.
He will focus on funding GPH’s growth, optimizing its capital structure, credit rating strategy, and expanding relationships with capital providers. He will also lead strategic initiatives of the company’s Chairman and CEO.
Saffet joins after over 15 years at Citigroup where he was most recently Managing Director and Head of the North America team for the Infrastructure Finance and Capital Solutions group.
During his career at Citi, Saffet led structured financings and advisories across different regions, asset classes, credit markets, and at different levels of the capital structure. His experience includes transportation, digital, energy, social/P3, and sports-entertainment infrastructure. In particular, he developed a specialty in cruise infrastructure and established it as a standalone asset class.
Mehmet Kutman, Chief Executive Officer and Jan Fomferra, Chief Financial Officer commented: “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”.
Saffet will be based in New York and begin work on June 16th, following a period of garden leave.
About Global Ports Holding
Global Ports Holding is the world’s largest independent cruise port operator, with a portfolio of 35 cruise ports in 20 countries across the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Asia-Pacific regions. Serving over 22 million passengers annually, GPH continues its global expansion with a strong commitment to operational excellence, sustainability, and innovation.
Press Contact
Ceylan Yaman
Marketing Director
ceylane@globalportsholding.com
Sizen E. Akcal
Marketing & Communications Manager


