Karpat Polat

Karpat Polat’s journey in advertising began with a defining moment—being discovered for his creative talent by Eli Acıman. This early recognition set the stage for a career marked by groundbreaking achievements. In 1998, with his very first brief at Manajans Thomson, he won the Crystal Apple award, foreshadowing a trajectory of creative excellence.

In 2001, he became the very first copywriter at Rafineri, a newly established agency, and within just a few years, he made history by contributing to Turkey’s first-ever Cannes Lions win in 2003-04. His creative ambitions then took him beyond borders, leading him to DM9 São Paulo, where he played a key role in the agency being named Cannes Lions Global Cyber Agency of the Year in 2005. Returning to Istanbul, he continued his streak at DDB&Co., securing the #3 Global Cyber Agency of the Year title in 2009.

Karpat was at the forefront of Turkey’s global advertising success, winning the country's first Gold Lion at Cannes in 2010. Between 2009 and 2013, he was ranked as the Most Awarded Creative Director at Cannes Lions four times. Lürzer’s Archive recognized him as both the #1 creative director and the #1 copywriter in the world, crediting him with single-handedly putting Turkey on the global advertising map. His influence extended beyond awards—he served as a Global Creative Board Member for DDB Worldwide, became a shareholder of DDB Turkey, and actively contributed to the industry as a member of the Turkish Advertising Association and the Turkish Advertising Creatives Association.

With more than 100 shortlists and 53 awarded pieces at Cannes, Karpat became Turkey’s most awarded adman. His impact wasn’t limited to agency life—he also shaped future talents as an adjunct professor at Bahçeşehir University’s Master Class for two years and was recognized in Forbes’ 40 Under 40 Most Creatives list.

In 2014, he took a bold step, selling his business to establish his own independent agency, K A R P A T. A decade later, in 2024, he celebrated its 10th anniversary, cementing its place as a creative powerhouse in Turkish advertising. Today, he continues to shape the industry as an Executive Board Member of the newly founded Advertising and Marketing Communication Association of Turkey (REPID), driving innovation and excellence forward.