Koç family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Koç family is a Turkish businesspeople dynasty founded by Vehbi Koç, the self-made wealthiest person of the country. His grandsons, the third generation of the Koç family, run today Turkey’s largest and most prestigious group of companies.
- Vehbi Koç was born on July 20, 1901 in Ankara and died on February 25, 1996 in İstanbul. In 1926, he married Sadberk, the daughter of his aunt motherside. Started in trade in his very young age, he built up a broad net of companies, and founded Koç Holding in 1963. He became the richest person in Turkey. His son Rahmi Mustafa and three daughters Semahat, Sevgi and Suna succeeded him.
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- Semahat, born 1928 in Ankara, is the first child of Vehbi Koç. She graduated from the American College for Girls in Istanbul and then finished Goethe Institute in Germany. She is married to Dr. Nusret Arsel since 1956. Semahat is member of the board directors of Koç Holding and Koç Foundation. She is president of the "Semahat Arsel Nursing Education and Research Center".
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- Rahmi Mustafa Koç (born 1930 in Ankara) received his B.A. degree from the Johns Hopkins University, USA after graduating from the Robert College in İstanbul. He served at various managerial posts in the group companies, and took over in 1984 the leadership of the business empire, his father founded. Rahmi married Çiğdem Meseretçioğlu. After the birth of their three sons, the couple divorced. He transferred 2003 his chair to his eldest son Mustafa. He is currently honorary chairman of the Koç Holding.
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- Mustafa Vehbi Koç, born 1960 in İstanbul, is the eldest son of Rahmi Koç. He was educated in the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz in Switzerland, and graduated 1984 from the George Washington University, USA. After serving at various posts, the third generation member of the family was appointed president of the Koç Holding in 2003. He is married to Caroline Giraud. They have two daughters, Esra and Aylin.
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- Mehmet Ömer Koç was born on March 24, 1962 in Ankara as the second son of Rahmi Koç. He finished the Robert College in İstanbul and the Millfield School, Somerset, UK. Ömer was educated first at the Georgetown University, Washington D.C., and then obtained his B.A. and master’s degree from the Columbia University, New York, USA. After working in several posts in the Koç group companies, Ömer is charged with the chair of energy group in the holding.
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- Yıldırım Ali Koç (born on April 2, 1967 in İstanbul) is the youngest son of Rahmi Koç. After finishing the high school at Harrow School, London, UK, he received 1989 his B.A. from the Rice University, Houston, Texas, and in 1997 his master’s degree from the Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He worked in various companies in the USA and in the Koç Group, and became chief executive of the information technologies group of the holding. He married newly Nevbahar Demirağ.
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- Sevgi was born 1938 as the third child of Vehbi Koç. She finished the American College for Girls in Istanbul and married Erdoğan Gönül, a member of the board of directors of the Koç Holding. She was member of the board of directors in the Koç Holding and the Koç Founation. Sevgi presided also the executive committee of Sadberk Hanim Museum in İstanbul, and was a columnist in the Turkish newspaper "Hürriyet". She died on July 16, 2003 in İstanbul due to cancer, shortly after her husband’s death.
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- Suna, born 1941, is the fourth child of Vehbi Koç. She finished the American College for Girls in Istanbul, and then was educated at the Bosphorus University, İstanbul. She is married to İnan Kıraç, a high rank executive of the Koç group. They have one child. Suna served at various posts in the holding, and latest as vice president. She holds memberships in the board of numerous foundations and educational institutions. Due to her contributions in education, health and social service in Turkey, Suna was awarded "Supreme Service Medal" by state president Süleyman Demirel in 1997. London Business School chose her in 1999 "honorary membership" for her contributions in leadership at the Koç Holding and in the education of children in Turkey.
