After completing his undergraduate (1985) and master’s (1988) studies in mechanical engineering at Boğaziçi University, Dr. Akçakaya received his master’s degree in glass science from New York State College of Ceramics (1991) and his PhD in engineering management from Marmara University (2001). He started his career at Şişecam as a research engineer in 1988, and served as factory manager, Vice President of Automotive Glasses, Flat Glass Group President and Vice President of R&D and Quality in the same institution. In 2022, he took office as the CEO of 7Cbasalia Global Company, which he supported its foundation in partnership with Şişecam. Dr. Akçakaya served for a period as the Chairman of Glass for Europe, the European flat glass manufacturers association headquartered in Brussels.