Our Founder

Message from the Honorary Chairman

Dear Stakeholders and Colleagues,

As I write these lines, I feel deep pain for the more than 10 million people living in the 10 provinces struck by the earthquake disaster. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives and millions of people have lost their homes, but our nation as a whole has mobilized to heal the wounds caused by this earthquake disaster and give a hand to the millions of people in need. Organizations, civil society volunteers, and individuals all support our government’s efforts to help. The Doğan Group is also doing everything it can. I pray that God grants mercy to those who lost their lives, I hope for a quick recovery for the injured, and I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to our nation.

In 2022, global economic difficulties continued. The war between Russia and Ukraine changed global balances and led to serious problems, especially in the energy sector, both in terms of supply and pricing. All governments and their Central Banks have taken comprehensive measures to overcome these challenges. Our country has also taken a number of new measures to respond to these conditions and ensure economic growth, and we have largely left behind the COVID-19 pandemic that shook both our country and the world over the last two years through intensive vaccination campaigns.

Despite significant uncertainties affecting the country's economy, the Doğan Group has remained undaunted, achieving profitable growth while increasing our investments for our country. According to our vision and our new strategy, we have shifted our activities to technology-intensive sectors in particular. We incorporated Karel, one of our country’s largest electronics companies, into our organization. We continued to grow in the packaging industry and in the field of renewable energy. We closely followed developments in the automotive sector, focusing our attention especially on electric automobiles. In addition, we made important breakthroughs in the fields of banking and insurance.

This dynamic, successful transformation of our group is the result of all our employees’ great efforts and selfless work, and I am very happy to convey my appreciation and thanks to all of them.

2023 is an historic turning point. Our Republic is leaving its 100th year in the past to step into a new century. As a family and Group firmly committed to the Republic and the values of the Republic, we will continue to serve our country and use our resources for the growth and development of Turkey. In 2023, an important election awaits our country as well. I hope these elections can be held in peace and tranquility with a sense of maturity that befits our democratic structure, and that its results are auspicious for our country.

I firmly believe that our nation and our country have the strength and potential to overcome all difficulties. Turkey will definitely reach the place it deserves in the world.

I embrace you all with my wishes of health and well-being.

Aydın Doğan
Honorary President
Doğan Holding

Aydın Doğan

Aydın Doğan was born in 1936 in Kelkit, Gümüşhane to a prominent family of the region. He went to primary and junior high school in Kelkit and high school in Erzincan, before studying at İstanbul College for Economics and Commerce. At the college, he chaired the Student Association. In 1959, he was registered in Mecidiyeköy Tax Office, and started to trade automobiles, commercial vehicles and construction machinery. In 1961, he set up his first private company, which was active in wholesale trade until 1970.

In 1974, Aydın Doğan established a new company stepping into industry, and was elected to İstanbul Chamber of Commerce's Assembly and Board of Directors, and to Board of Directors of The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey in the following years.

After successful business initiatives in the fields of commerce, industry and real estate, he took over the daily Milliyet in 1979, thus stepping into the press. In 1994, he acquired the newspaper Hürriyet, thus further reinforcing his clout and continuing his ascent in the media industry. Furthermore, he has founded the newspapers Posta and Fanatik, which would go on to reach immense success. In TV broadcasting, he has created the brands Kanal D and CNN Türk, as well as Kanal D Romania. He has established companies that lead the pack in book publishing, music broadcasting, digital publishing and distribution such as Doğan Kitap, Doğan Burda Magazine Group and DMC. He has extended his achievements abroad and also established Turkey’s first media brands featuring international partners.

From 1986 until 1996, he served as the president of Turkish Union of Newspaper Owners. In 2004, he became the first Turk to be elected to the Board of Directors of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).

While growing in the media industry, he has continued to invest in other areas as well. To his companies in the automotive, insurance and tourism industries, he has added banking and finance institutions. He has breathed new life into mass marketing with MilPA, and gone on to create one of Turkey's greatest brand in the retail industry: D&R. Doğan has later expanded his operations towards fuel retailing, mining and renewable energy.

He was granted State Medal of Distinguished Service in 1999 and Turkish Parliament’s Medal of Distinguished Service in 2007 In 2009, he received The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his contributions to the integration of German citizens of Turkish origin to German society through his efforts at Germany Integration Foundation, established through an initiative by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and of which Doğan is a founding member. He was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by Girne American University in 1999, followed by Ege University, Baku State University and Marmara University in 2000, 2001 and 2005 respectively.

For 60 years, the companies founded by Aydın Doğan under the umbrella of Doğan Holding have assumed pioneering and innovative roles in the business world, while fervently upholding the vital principles of honesty and transparency.

His vision has introduced groundbreaking changes in many fields from the media to marketing, from manufacturing to banking in Turkey. He has undertaken investments to create employment in Anatolia, where he was born and raised. In all his activities, he has aspired to national success as well as global prestige. While closely monitoring developments in Turkey and abroad, he has established strategic alliances with international groups across a vast region. In every business, he has adhered to a philosophy of quality and service that "holds the promise to the customer above all else". He has embraced a dynamic management approach open to change in his companies. He has upheld the values of gratitude, responsibility, transparency and collective achievement as integral parts of corporate culture. The corporate and ethical values embraced by the Holding have set an example to other groups in the business community.

In 1996, he has established Aydın Doğan Foundation, gathering under a single roof the wide array of services he had been providing to society; he has focused the Foundation's activities in the fields of education, culture, public health, scientific research, sports and economics. Across Turkey, he has built many schools, dormitories, gyms and parks named after him and his family members. The Foundation has been organizing for 25 years Aydın Doğan International Cartoon Competition, one of the most reputable award organizations in the world, and supporting students of communication through the Young Communicators' Competition. In addition, granted every year since 1996, Aydın Doğan Award has supported progress in various fields of culture and arts, ranging from literature to music, from architecture to social sciences.

Since 1977, Aydın Doğan has figured among the tax champions of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. He has transformed his company, which consisted of three people in 1961, into one of Turkey's foremost business offering employment to 20 thousand individuals through its subsidiaries, strategic partnerships and commercial agencies.

Having largely withdrawn from the media industry in 2018, Aydın Doğan currently guides electricity generation, petroleum product retail, industry&trade, automotive trade&marketing, finance&investment and internet&entertainment and real estate investment companies of Doğan Holding, of which he is the Honorary Chairperson, thus continuing to work and produce.

One of Turkey's foremost investors, Aydın Doğan is currently seeking new investment opportunities to add value to Turkey, together with her four daughters who represent the second generation in his companies.