Vehbi Koç
20 July 1901 – 25 February 1996
Vehbi Koç was a Turkish businessman and philanthropist who founded Koç Holding, one of Turkey's largest industrial conglomerates. Starting from a small grocery shop in Ankara in 1917, he built a trading and manufacturing group that held dealerships and joint ventures with foreign firms such as Ford and General Electric. In 1969 he established the Vehbi Koç Foundation, the first private charitable foundation in Turkey.
Lived at the same time
Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Vehbi Koç.
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- Habib Bourguiba (1903–2000) Overlapped 93 years →
- Linus Pauling (1901–1994) Overlapped 93 years →
- Ba Jin (1904–2005) Overlapped 92 years →
- Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) Overlapped 92 years →
- John Atanasoff (1903–1995) Overlapped 92 years →
Life events
Born in Ankara in the final years of the Ottoman Empire.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgBegan trading in groceries and building materials in the Karaoglan district with his father's support.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe couple had four children, including his successor Rahmi Koç.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe agency marked the start of a long series of partnerships with foreign manufacturers.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgIncorporated his businesses as one of the first joint-stock companies in Turkey.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOne of several manufacturing joint ventures that moved the group from trading into industry.
Brought his companies together under a single holding structure.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSet up the first private charitable foundation in Turkey, funding education, health and cultural work.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgStepped back from day-to-day leadership and became honorary chairman.
Source: en.wikipedia.org