OREANDA-NEWS. July 11, 2012. Yandex (NASDAQ: YNDX), Russia’s leading search engine, has announced the appointment of Mehmet Ali Yalcэndag as Chairman of the Board of Yandex.Turkey, the Company’s subsidiary in Turkey. Mr. Yalcэndag will supervise, in a non-executive capacity, strategic development of Yandex.Turkey and help enhance Yandex’s brand awareness amongst Turkish internet users. Yandex established a presence in Turkey in September 2011.

“Mr. Yalcэndag’s experience and contributions to the Turkish media and entertainment industries will help Yandex expand our knowledge of the Turkish market and further customize our products to meet the needs and expectations of our users in Turkey. We are happy to welcome Mr. Yalcэndag to our team,” says Yandex’s founder and CEO Arkady Volozh.

“I am excited to be a part of one of the world’s leading internet companies. Since Yandex opened its office in Turkey last year, Yandex.Turkey’s team has been instrumental in the company’s effort to deliver top-quality products and services tailored to the unique needs of Turkish users. Internet users in Turkey have, and will continue to benefit from the enhanced competition resulting from Yandex’s entry to the country’s digital market,” said Mehmet Ali Yalcэndag.

Mehmet Ali Yalcэndag has held executive positions at the Dogan Group since 1990. In 1996, Mr. Yalcэndag was appointed Vice President of the Executive Committee, and in 1999 became CEO of Dogan Media Holding. While working at the Doрan Group, he led various foreign partnerships, initiatives and investments. Mr. Yalcэndag remains a Board Member of the Dogan Media Holding. He is married and has two children.