In 2021, Flix SE acquired Dallas-based Greyhound and as a result established operations in the U.S. Kadir Boysan was tasked with leading Greyhound, as the company’s longtime leader Dave Leach entered retirement. Former leadership roles for Boysan include CEO of Turks Telekom, principal at MasterCard, and a director at Actera, the largest private equity firm dedicated to investments in Turkey.
In Boysan’s extended 2023 Dallas 500 Q&A, he talks about his first job at P&G, environmental benefits of bus transportation, and his world travels.
Education: Yale University (MA), The London School of Economics and Political Science (MS), Imperial College London (MBA), Middle East Technical University (BS)
First Job: “My first job was at Procter & Gamble. I oversaw the global hair care brand Pantene. We managed to more than double our market share in Turkey in two years’ time, mostly by providing economic packs. We were seen as the benchmark globally. The key learning was that when we were able to develop an attractive value proposition, it was basically irrefutable by all competitors and substitute products.”
Best Advice: “’Overinvest (your time) in key challenges in front of you’” has been the most significant advice I have received throughout my career. Whenever I am faced with a challenge, it provides me extra motivation to spend dedicated time finding a resolution.”
Destinations of Choice: “I really enjoy traveling. I am lucky that I will be based in the US and be able to visit all my favorite destinations—including New York City and San Francisco. I’m also excited to discover new destinations such as Ogden, Utah; Boise, Idaho; Portland, Oregon; and New Orleans, Louisiana. I look forward to exploring some of these areas by Greyhound and FlixBus as intercity bus transportation is one of the best ways to truly appreciate the many scenic views the US has to offer.”
Hobby/Passion: “I used to play basketball in high school. I gave it up in my 20’s as my body could no longer cope with the physical pressure alongside the demands of my professional life. However, my passion for basketball continues today as a fan of the Dallas Mavericks. I used to follow the games online from overseas, but now I am hoping to attend as many Mavericks games as possible with my children. I am also a farmer at heart and like to spend time at my family farm working in the field.”
Industry Change: “Our sector is one of the most environmentally friendly transportation options available for travelers. While this is something our industry is proud of and acknowledges, it is not promoted widely to the public. The environmental benefits provided by bus transportation is something I believe we must begin to share more diligently with world, especially in a time where sustainable solutions are critical for the future of our planet. I am keen to make sure that this is well-known and appreciated by all stakeholders, especially our fellow passengers.”
Fun Fact: “I have lived and worked in four continents so far: Europe (i.e., UK, Germany, Belgium, Italy), Asia (i.e., Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey), Africa (i.e., South Africa) and North America (USA). Not only am I in the transportation industry, but I also continually relocate to different countries and cities around the world.”
Go-to Adviser: “My first contact is always the veterans of the sector where I work. As CEO of Flix North America, the newly formed legal steering both Greyhound and FlixBus US, there is a long list of successful and experienced individuals in all areas of our business from whom I can learn from and rely on for guidance. While advice from our internal teams is priceless to me, I also value feedback from the customers we serve each day across our network. ”
Toughest Challenge: “During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was CEO of Kamil Koc, the Turkish operations of Flix SE. We were forced to postpone operations completely which was difficult for our personnel, bus-partners, passengers, and suppliers—for everybody. Keeping up the morale of all stakeholders while coping with a pandemic in a service-heavy industry was particularly challenging once we resumed operations again. With more than 1,000 buses, 8,000 personnel and millions of passengers in Türkiye alone, we had a challenge ahead of us as we worked to reach pre-pandemic operation levels. We supported each other as a team and managed to make it through such a trying period—together.”
First Car: “After graduating from university, it was my dream to buy my own car. At the time, I could afford a Toyota Corolla. Later in life, I managed to upgrade to my dream car: a Jeep Wrangler.”
Proud Moment: “Flix SE managed to acquire Greyhound, the most iconic brand globally in the industry. It is synonymous with inter-city travel in the US. It is by far the most significant achievement, in addition to our successful ramp-up globally since the start of the pandemic. Both achievements are a testament to our commitment to provide consumers an affordable, comfortable, smart, and sustainable travel experience.”
Pivotal Moment: “Andre, the founder and CEO of Flix, visited my team in Istanbul early in 2022 after our successful transformation and profitable performance in Turkey during the pandemic. We talked about his vision for both Greyhound and FlixBus, and how to help them both excel as comfortable, affordable, and eco-friendly travel experiences in North America. He then unexpectedly asked me if I would be interested in leading the newly formed Flix North America business, guiding strategically both Greyhound and FlixBus US. I was positively surprised and superbly excited at the enormous challenge and opportunity presented. Although there were personal matters that I needed to consider, I immediately jumped at the opportunity and said, ‘I’m interested.’ My wife supported my decision full-heartedly, as she had previously studied, lived, and worked in the US.”
Must-read: ” I have read The Little Prince many times over the years. I recently shared it with my child who is 5 years old. The theme of keeping an open mind and taking the time to explore the world around us relates not only to life, but also the business world. We should approach every business decision with an open mind, no judgements, and an eagerness to explore new possibilities.”
Alternate Reality: “If I were not a business executive, I would be a surgeon treating patients and hopefully increasing the quality of their lives. I genuinely admire and respect the work done by doctors in general, and surgeons more specifically.”
Biggest Risk: “I would not consider myself a big risk taker. I am a true believer in collective decision making in which all relevant parties contribute with their perspectives. If one follows such a comprehensive process, there is usually limited risk left if any.”
Key Leadership Strategies: “I value the most two key strategies: The empowerment of people through technology and ensuring sustainable business decisions for all stakeholders—primarily customers and employees. The key is cascading the decision-making authority to all levels of the organization and giving them all the necessary tools (including technology) to ensure they continually improve their decisions and make the business more sustainable at every turn.”
Future Forecast: “I am really excited about leading the transformation of inter-city travel in the US with Greyhound and FlixBus. I look forward to making the businesses more profitable and sustainable for all stakeholders in the eco-system—primarily for our passengers and employees. On personal level, I am truly excited about continuing to discover life in Dallas—and Texas in general.”
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