Born in Mersin in 1965, Rifat Günay graduated from Gazi University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences in 1985. His central bank career began in 1986 at the Central Bank of Turkey, where he worked as an auditor between the years 1986-1994. After his duty as the Banking Manager of the Banking Department, Rifat Günay was appointed as Vice General Manager of Banking in 1998 and General Manager of Banking and Financial Institutions on August 23, 2005. In 2010, he was appointed as Advisor at the Central Bank of Turkey. Günay, who served as a member of the Executive Board of the Central Bank of the TRNC between the years 2000 and 2010, undertook important duties in the management of the TRNC Banks Crisis, and the subsequent establishment of a sound and sustainable structure. He served as a member of the Board of Directors in various foundations and associations. After serving as the acting Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Günay was appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank of the TRNC by the TRNC Council of Ministers on May 3, 2018. He is married and has two children.