Sarıkaya announced her appointment on November 3, 2026, through a professional update, describing her move to Dangote Petroleum & Petrochemicals as an opportunity to contribute to a company at a defining moment in its development.
Her appointment comes as the refinery prepares for an ambitious expansion that would increase its capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day. It also follows the company’s landmark initial public offering, which Sarıkaya said attracted investors from approximately 120 countries.
Who Is Betül Sarıkaya?
Betül Sarıkaya is a Turkish finance executive with more than 20 years of professional experience, particularly in the energy and financial services sectors.
Before joining Dangote Petroleum Refinery, she was the Chief Financial Officer of the Turkic Investment Fund, an international financial institution established to promote economic cooperation and investment among Turkic countries.
She joined the fund in October 2024 as part of its founding management team and played a role in developing its financial management framework, systems and institutional processes.
Her experience also includes senior financial and management positions at SOCAR Türkiye and STAR Refinery, giving her direct exposure to the financial demands of large-scale energy operations.
Her professional journey has combined corporate financial management with audit, risk management, treasury operations and investment governance.
PwC Career and Entry into the Energy Industry
Sarıkaya began her professional career at PwC, where she worked in the firm’s Houston, United States, and Turkish offices. She subsequently moved into the energy industry, joining SOCAR Türkiye, the Turkish operations of Azerbaijan’s state-owned energy company.
One of her notable responsibilities was establishing SOCAR Türkiye’s Internal Audit Department, helping develop internal control and oversight structures within the organisation.
Her work in audit and financial governance became an important part of her professional experience, particularly in an industry characterised by large capital investments, complex commercial transactions and exposure to international commodity markets.
From Corporate Finance to Building an International Investment Institution
In October 2024, Sarıkaya took up the position of CFO at the Turkic Investment Fund. The institution was established to support investment, trade, infrastructure development and economic cooperation among its member countries, including Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary and Uzbekistan.
Her responsibilities extended beyond conventional corporate accounting to include financial governance, capital efficiency and the development of institutional systems.
In February 2026, the fund announced that Sarıkaya had received its Golden Leader Award in recognition of her work in strategic financial management.
The award announcement highlighted her contribution to strengthening the fund’s financial architecture and developing governance frameworks aligned with international practices.
She left the Turkic Investment Fund at the end of August 2026 to return to the private sector, paving the way for her appointment at Dangote Petroleum & Petrochemicals.
Educational Background and Professional Qualifications
She graduated from Middle East Technical University, where she studied between 2000 and 2005 and later obtained an Executive MBA from Koç University in 2013.
She also undertook executive development programmes at IMD Business School between 2022 and 2023 and completed Harvard Business School’s Succeeding as a Strategic CFO programme in April 2023.
Her professional credentials include:
-
Certified Public Accountant qualification in Türkiye (SMMM).
-
Independent Auditor Licence from Türkiye’s Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority.
-
Executive training in strategic financial leadership.
-
Additional training in critical energy infrastructure protection at George Mason University.
What Her Appointment Means for Dangote Refinery
Sarıkaya’s arrival reflects the growing importance of financial leadership as Dangote Refinery enters its next phase. The refinery’s ambitions extend beyond supplying Nigeria’s domestic petroleum market. The company is seeking to strengthen its position in international refined-product markets while expanding its petrochemical and energy operations.
The proposed capacity increase to 1.4 million barrels per day would significantly increase the scale of its operations and the complexity of its financing requirements.
At the same time, the company’s entry into the capital market means investors will pay closer attention to its financial performance, profitability, debt obligations, cash flow and capital allocation decisions.
Sarıkaya’s experience across refinery finance, corporate auditing and investment management places her in a position to contribute to these priorities.
