Aybars Surucu
Event Director · TransTaurus Stage Race
Vazdradzhane, 03
In My Own Words
I am a senior product strategist and thought leader in the European e-bike and sustainable transport sector. With over a decade of experience spanning OEM product development, EPAC compliance, supply chain restructuring, and digital mobility integration, I present a rare blend of technical expertise, strategic foresight, and cultural advocacy. My proven leadership in Turkey and across EU-aligned frameworks positions me as a high-impact asset for any forward-thinking mobility organization.
I can clearly say, I'm a passionate and pragmatic bicycle product leader with over a decade of experience driving the development and delivery of electric and cargo bikes across the European market.
My career bridges hands-on engineering, compliance mastery (EPAC, EN 15194, ISO 4210), and strategic business development — enabling OEMs, startups, and urban mobility operators to launch vehicles that are not only innovative and user-focused but also fully compliant with regulatory and operational standards.
From managing multi-brand portfolios and lifecycle documentation to collaborating with Tier-1 suppliers on smart motor/display systems and sustainable components, I bring both vision and execution.
I contribute regularly to industry dialogue on the future of bicycle design, the pitfalls of model-year marketing, and the integration of micromobility into resilient urban ecosystems.
Key skills: ✅ E-bike & cargo bike platform development ✅ EPAC/CE/ISO certification strategy ✅ OEM & B2B partnerships ✅ Product lifecycle and compliance documentation ✅ Smart components, IoT integration ✅ Fleet and logistics bike adaptation ✅ Cross-cultural supplier collaboration (EU, Asia)
🌍 I am based in Europe and open to international roles in product leadership, technical consulting, or strategic partnerships in mobility and green transport.
Let’s connect if you’re building the next generation of clean, active transportation.
Work Experience
Freelance Consultant
Freelance2022 – Present
Freelance consultancy for product management and production capability development.
Freelance Consultant
Freelance2022 – Present
Freelance consultancy for product management and production capability development.
Co Founder
İzmir Bisiklet2016 – 2022
After long years on saddle and in production & retail side of cycling sector, I have founded my own company in August 2015. Due to 2016, I have started to serve for investors, brands and producers.
I would like to offer my service for different channels; following through all product flow on vendors,
- Production & Facility Management; since Turkey is very close to European markets and for last 2 years it has been discussed among European brands to get the production return to Europe from Far East. (I had mentioned first time about it in 2009) Turkey can be a good solution for production.
Turkey has several factories and new comers are joining the sector for last 2 years. Even, an alloy frame factory started up.
I can manage your production and product flow, breaking the language barrier with local sources.
- Collection / Product Range Meetings & Instructions; Since I'm a keen rider and mechanic, I can combine those longtime skills and my production experience to create a wide spread range with cost effective methods.
- Quality Management; I can provide incoming inspection of samples and can follow your sample production. From prototype phase to "golden standard sample" phase, I can report and take action to provide quicker solutions.
- Production Survey; I can follow your scheduled production batches and I can manage the production issues instantly on field. I can support your documentation and import process too.
- Brand Events & Meetings; I can use my tourism and guiding experience to organise events & meetings for your brand.
- Sales & Marketing; Since Turkey has a huge potential for sports & cycling sector with young population, I can support your sales & marketing efforts for Turkish market.
Please feel free to contact me about any of above topics. We can discuss collaboration opportunities.
The Biker
İTEK A.S2018 – 2022
Technical review of client demands Creation of the product specs and starting the product development process with creation of BOMs Validation of BOMs with product development team Sharing the technical incompatibility issues with clients and suppliers To over come those incompatibility issues; finding alternative items, suggestions and finalization. To get the confirmation of final version of BOMs and prepare for purchase orders Prototype preparation and calculations of confirmed BOMs To follow and management of those preparation on supplier side Verification of all details on prototype to create the golden sample Sharing negative results on prototype phase with clients and supplier To over come those incompatibility issues; finding alternative items, suggestions and finalization for production. Creation of product topography ; in-house collections and new products· Market positioning of the products in collection Following new trends in industry Project management of first-time products like JIVR & Cargo Trike Field testing of the products Communication with clients for pricing of the products Adding new international clients onto portfolio Planning of attendance for national or international events Creation and management of the content for events above Following international sources and industrial / governing bodies like CIE / ECF etc. Communication with industrial / governing bodies like CIE / ECF etc. Review of new products / updates with suppliers Sustainability of communication with suppliers and service providers Following emerging situations via international network Creation of the content for the opportunity / threat analysis Supporting of every purchase function in technical and commercial aspects Technical control and verification of orders and order confirmations Creating solutions on issues during production with product development team Review of equipments for production and communication with suppliers
Import Export Specialist
Giant Bicycles 捷安特2016 – 2017
- Orders & Shippings - Import Procedures of Bicycles & Components + Textile & Gear - Aftersales Legal Process including service points network.
Project Assistant for Turkish Distribition
Giant Bicycles2013 – 2015
- Market Research - Annual Forecast of Sales+Turnover+Profit - Orders & Shippings - Import Procedures of Bicycles & Components + Textile & Gear - Aftersales Legal Process including service points network.
Quality & Production
Accell Group2011 – 2013
- Incoming Inspection of Goods - Purchase Orders for Production - Quality Problems of Suppliers - Product Development; preparing bill of materials for clients and recommending solutions for technical and end user side. - Tracing of Technical Problems at Production - System Updates at MRP/ERP for specs.
TR Assistant Manager
Specialized Bicycle Components2010 – 2011
- Annual Sales Forecast - Retail Training - Field Sales Training - Orders & Shipments
Department Manager
Decathlon2009 – 2010
Following the training which has been given in France at Paris during 2 months, my tasks were - To manage the department which was under my responsibility, such as a separed store in the store. - To keep the flow of fundemental proceses of a department manager; Order management / Sales Management/ Stock Management/ Staff Management. - To be a “Duty Manager” as Store Manager for 1 day per week. - Training of staff including recruitment process and career management. - To arrange layout placement for the department. - Order management; To forecast about sale performance of goods, item by item. To open purchase orders on system from continental supply chain due to sale perfomance. To block purchase orders due to seasonal forecast to manage reasonable stock levels. To choose product range due to turnover levels. - Sales Management; to determine a commercial policy including range choice and determining a price policy. - To decide for promotional actions and discounts to activate the sales. To increase the support of “weak links” in turnover. - Stock Management; to keep stock values correctly, physical and systematical. To manage the orders precautionally with forecast to increase stock levels. - Staff Management; to recruit the staff for the department. Recruitment process includes legal processes and documents. After recruitment to train them for field service and career management. To order their work shifts and work hours. -Career Management; to provide personal development of the staff with trainings and career management. This process leads the individuals from the start to upper levels of management on different positions.
Westfalia Seperator TR - Spare Parts Supply
GEA Group2007 – 2008
Our firm was manufacturer of separators which being used in industrial processes. My responsibilty was, supplying spare parts for clients such as Ulker, Sutas, Pinar, Efes Pilsen, Tuborg. My role was to identify correct part for correct machine and to import it. This position really was relied on SAP and MRP/ERP systems.
Vestel White - Spare Parts Resp.
Vestel2006 – 2007
Our company was the vendor of well known brands in white appliances market such as General Electric, Electrolux, etc. 75% of production was being imported. My responsibility was, supplying spare parts to those brands as commercial clients. My role was including to planning of purchase orders, preparation and delivery processes of those spare parts. To work through SAP was an essential requirement.
Spare Parts Resp.
TEBA Group of Companies2004 – 2005
Our company was the vendor of well known brands in white appliances market such as General Electric, Electrolux, etc. 75% of production was being imported. My responsibility was, supplying spare parts to those brands as commercial clients. My role was including to planning of purchase orders, preparation and delivery processes (including customs) of those spare parts. This spare parts process was developed and re-modelled by our collaboration with our IT and MIS department under my advices. To work through Oracle MRP/ERP systems was a must for that postion. All employess lost their jobs because illegal bankruptcy of the company.
IT + Wan Project Manager / Foreign Trade Asst.
Orjinal Stor - NEES2002 – 2004
Our company was the vanguard of their sector in Turkiye which was the importer and manufacturer of automated shutters for houses, automated roller shutter door systems for houses and industrial buildings such as warehouses, insect screen applications, and loading ramps. My role was to asist foreign trade operations and responsibility of the IT systems for regional offices in Turkiye. I leaded the implementation of Wide Area Network via Cisco Systems to minimize communication costs. But they put me off for while saying that they’d have a government supply for my position from KOSGEB (Association of Small and Mid Sized Bussiness Units) and didn’t register me into National Security System (SSK). As soon as the position in TEBA has been offered to me, I resigned.
Education
Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi
1996 – 1999
Lycee of Karşıyaka
1992 – 1995
