Utku Cihan

Utku Cihan graduated from Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

He completed his master's degree in Urban Systems and Transportation Management at Bahçeşehir University in 2013 and his doctorate in "Sustainable Transportation" at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 2025.

In 2008, he worked as an urban planner at the ESHOT General Directorate of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. From 2011, he worked as the Transportation Planning Chief at the Transportation Department and then as the Public Transportation Services Branch Manager. In 2019, he was appointed Transportation Planning Manager at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and then Head of the Transportation Department in 2020.

By a decision of the CHP Assembly, he was nominated as the Hopa Mayoral Candidate on January 10, 2024, and was elected Mayor in the local elections held on March 31, 2024. In November 2024, Cihan became the President of the Urban Mobility and Transportation Commission of the Union of Turkish Municipalities

His memberships include the Transportation Commission of the Union of Turkish Municipalities, the Turkish Coordinator of European Mobility Week, the President of the Izmir City Council Transportation Working Group, the Izmir Branch of the Chamber of Urban Planners, the Pedestrian Association (Founding Board Member), the Bicycle Transportation Association BISUDER (Founding Member), and participation in numerous congresses, conferences, and panels.