Halit Cıngıllıoglu

Halit CINGILLIOGLU
Born 1954

Halit Cıngıllıoğlu (born 1954) is married with two children (Damla and Kemal). He is a member of Cingillioglu family, one of the most prominent and best known families in Turkey. The roots of the family originates from Kayseri a town from central Anatolia which is well known for its successful entrepreneurs in industrial and commercial activities. The Cingillioglu family is one of them with their companies originating from the early 1900s. The family established the first private electricity distribution business in Turkey (still owned by the family). The Cingillioglu family has companies in different sectors including energy production, distribution, banking, insurance, leasing, factoring and real estate.

Apart from his interests in family businesses, Halit Cingillioglu is the founder and principal shareholder of C Group, a Turkish conglomerate consisting of banking and financial services companies in Turkey, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Romania, Kazakhstan and Kyrgz Republic.

Born into a family of banking business, Halit Cıngıllıoğlu has been in the banking business all his career. He has been active in the financial sector since early 1970s working in various positions in banks, in Istanbul Stock Exchange as a member of the Board of Directors, brokerage houses, leasing, factoring and insurance companies. He is the principal shareholder of Demir Halk Bank (Nederland) NV in The Netherlands, a bank that Halit Cingillioglu has an ongoing partnership with Turkish Government (his partner in this bank is Halkbank A.S., one of the top 5 banks in Turkey, majority Turkish Government-owned and also publicly listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange).

Apart from his partnership with Turkish Halk Bank, through C Group's partnerships in different countries, Halit Cıngıllıoğlu is partner with Bank Hapoalim (the largest bank in Israel), International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Europen Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). More information on these partnerships can be seen at; www.dhbbank.com, www.bankpozitif.com.tr, www.demirbank.kg.

Cingillioglu holds PhD and MBA degrees in finance from universities in the USA. From his prior education he also has degrees from schools from Turkey, France and Switzerland. He has also been awarded with Honorary Doctorate Degree in finance by the Senate of Erciyes University in Turkey. He speaks fluent French and English languages.

Based on his contributions to the society and the development of business environment in Turkey Halit Cıngıllıoğlu holds a State High Service Medal, a highest level of recognition and respect by the Turkish state and awarded by the President of Turkey. He is Honorary Council of The Republic of Turkey in Brugge, Belgium.

Cingillioglu is also one of the best known names world-wide in the field of art. He has been involved in collecting artworks since his childhood and is known as a major art collector. According to ART news magazine he is listed among the top ten collectors worldwide in the impressionist, modern, post-war and contemporary art fields. As a worldwide expert in art, he is a member of the Advisory Council of Sotheby's where the company benefits from his experience and knowledge in art.

See also: List_of_most_expensive_paintings#cite_note-49 (List of most expensive paintings)

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