Born in Istanbul, Turkey. Graduated from Galatasaray Lycee. Received BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara. Pursued his graduate studies at the same University and obtained MS degree in Material Science with his thesis titled “Viscoelastic Heat Generation in Rolling Tires”. Attended INSEAD, the European Institute of Business Administration Executive Education Program in Fontainebleau, France and obtained Certificate in Finance. Fluent in English, French and Italian.

He started the initial years of his engineering career in PIRELLI Turkey. Later he joined the HACI OMER SABANCI HOLDING, one of the most important groups in Turkish Industry and Trade, where he enjoyed the first fifteen years of his business career. He assumed project, engineering and Technical Manager duties in setting and starting LASSA Tire factory, with license and manufacturing know-how from the BFGoodrich Company of USA, and later Technology Director responsibility in charge of Research and Development, Quality Assurance, and Technical departments. He acted as the founding Chairman of ARGESA, the Research and Development Center of SABANCI HOLDING, in addition to the existing function of Assistant General Manager for LASSA and later for BRIDGESTONE-Turkey after joint venture with BRIDGESTONE of Japan. He served as Consultant to General Coordinator of SABANCI HOLDING and President of Tire Group.

Pursuant the period at SABANCI HOLDING, he assumed various top management positions in SANTRAL HOLDING, in TURKPETROL HOLDING, and in GUMUSSUYU Group of companies, all previously large industrial groups. He worked as Chief Planning and Investments Officer in charge of reorganizing KORUMA Agrochemicals Company, a large chemical operation in chlorine, pesticides and household cleaning products, and RABAK Copper Company, a major copper and steel cable wire operation, both acquired by SANTRAL HOLDING upon privatization. He led the strategic planning activities and managed investments of all companies, including MENSUCAT SANTRAL Textile and SANKO Garment Company operations, within SANTRAL HOLDING. He functioned in TURKPETROL HOLDING as Managing Director for WENDY’S, in cooperation with WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL of USA to establish the franchising operation in Turkey. He assumed General Coordinator responsibility for GUMUSSUYU group of companies for managing a planned change and corporate renewal.

In the second part of business life, he engaged in consulting activity as the founder and principal of AREND Industrial Consulting, Inc. between the years 1997 – 2014. In this context, he offered strategic guidance and business solutions companies, particularly in industry. He served corporations aiming transformation, institutionalization and international competition. He established and guided management systems for total quality and productivity focusing on research, product development and production processes. He led companies to create new industrial and commercial values and to reach new export markets through original approaches in technology, innovation, production and marketing. During this period, he served a total of fifty organizations, thirty local and twenty foreign companies, for which eight projects carried out abroad.

In the evolution of professional life, he served as chairperson of Turkish Standards Institute Tire Standards Committee. He has been elected to the Board of Directors of European Tire and Rim Technical Organization, as member representing Switzerland, Austria, Greece and Turkey. He has served as call-member of various councils and working groups at institutions like State Planning Office, Ministry of Industry. He participated in various business councils of Foreign Economic Relations Board. He lectured in seminars at various universities. He is speaker in NATO Advanced Research Workshop and lecturer at UNIDO Training Course conventions. He has been member of associations like Society of Automotive Engineers of USA, American Management Association, Turkish Rubber Association, Management Consultants Association and Technology Management Association. He acted among the founders of Turkish Technology Development Foundation. He has served as member of National Innovation Initiative, pioneered by the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association and SABANCI University, Competitiveness Forum. He lectured at Yeditepe University – Business Administration MBA classes on Management of Change and Innovation, Contemporary Management, Current Issues in Management, Total Quality Management and Advanced Strategic Planning.

Cem Ergün now functions as independent consultant under AREND Industrial Consultancy and offers services in Management Consulting, Industrial Consulting, Business Development, Marketing, Human Resources and Training.