Burhanettin Duran has officially taken over as the Head of Communications at the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, following the departure of Fahrettin Altun, who held the position for seven years.

The handover ceremony was held in Ankara, where outgoing Communications Director Fahrettin Altun delivered a farewell speech, reflecting on his tenure and expressing satisfaction in passing the responsibility to Duran.

“I am very pleased to hand over this duty to Burhanettin Duran,” said Altun, highlighting the strategic progress made during his leadership. He noted that, from the day he was appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Directorate of Communications carried out significant work in strategic communication, public diplomacy, public relations, combating disinformation, and national branding.

“We have worked to unify the discourse of our state and enhance the quality of communication between the state and its citizens,” Altun stated. “Since the establishment of our institution, we’ve focused on its institutionalisation both nationally and internationally.”

Altun expressed his gratitude to President Erdoğan for his continued vision and support throughout his term.

Burhanettin Duran, who most recently served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and previously headed the SETA Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research, was appointed by President Erdoğan to lead the Communications Directorate.

Meanwhile, Fahrettin Altun has been appointed as President of the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (TİHEK), marking a new chapter in his public service career.

The leadership transition at the Directorate of Communications comes amid Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to enhance its global image, fight misinformation, and improve strategic messaging at home and abroad. (ILKHA)