Mustafa Koç named most influential business person

ISTANBUL

Mustafa Koç is named the most influential businessperson in Turkey. DHA photo

Turkish Koç Holding Chairman Mustafa Koç, Yıldız Holding Chairman Murat Ülker and Sabancı Holding Chairwoman Güler Sabancı have been ranked as the most influential business and economy figures of Turkey by monthly business and economy magazine Capital.

Mustafa Koç was ranked first on the list, given his achievements in making Koç Holding the 217th largest company of the world since 2005, up from the 389th. Murat Ülker, second on the list, succeeded in making Yıldız Holding the world’s 11st largest candy and chocolate producer by taking big steps to acquire new companies, including Godiva. Güler Sabancı earned third place for running Sabancı Holding, which has posted 26 billion liras in turnover. Rahmi Koç, Koç Holding’s honorary president, was ranked fourth on the list. Although he transferred all of his responsibilities to his son, Mustafa Koç, he is still very influential in the group’s business activities.

Erdem Başçı, Turkey’s central bank governor, whose comments are closely followed regarding developments in the Turkish economy, was ranked fifth. Hüsnü Özyeğin, chairman of FİBA Holding, followed Başçı at number six on the list. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, head of Turkey’s Union of Chamber and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), ranked in seventh plac.

Ferit Şahenk, chairman of Doğuş Holding, whose group of companies has been operating in sectors ranging from banking to marinas, was ranked eighth on the list. Muharrem Yılmaz, head of TÜSİAD, was ranked ninth. And Mehmet Emin Karamehmet, head of Çukurova Holding, was ranked tenth on the list.