Haci Ömer Sabanci
Encyclopedia
Hacı Ömer Sabancı was a Turkish
entrepreneur
, who founded a number of companies, which later formed the second largest industrial and financial conglomerate of Turkey
, the Sabancı Holding
. He initiated the establishment of a dynasty of Turkey's wealthiest businesspeople.
He was born in Akçakaya, a small village in Kayseri Province
in central Anatolia
, Turkey. In 1921, a couple of years after the death of his father, the then fifteen-year-old youngster left his hometown and walked all the way to Adana
to seek his fortune. He started his new life as a cotton
picker. Soon, he became a broker for cotton harvesters. With the money he saved in a few years, Hacı Ömer entered the cotton trade, and in 1932 became a co-owner of a cotton spinning
plant. At that time, the people working for him called him "Aga" ("Boss"). In 1943, he became a partner of YağSA, and in 1946 of MarSA, both production plants of vegetable oil and margarine
, respectively. In 1948 Hacı Ömer established his own bank Akbank
. In 1951 in Adana he founded the textile company Bossa, which became the largest integrated textile facility in Turkey. In the following years, he founded Oralitsa (1954), a roofing material factory, and Aksigorta (1960), an insurance company.
In 1928, he married Sadıka (1910-1988), who bore him six sons, İhsan
(1931-1979), Sakıp
(1933-2004), Hacı
(1935-1998), Şevket
(1936), Erol
(1938) and Özdemir
(1941-1996). Hacı Ömer Sabancı and his family moved to İstanbul
after purchasing in 1951, a mansion known as "Atlı Köşk" ("Equestrian Villa") on the Europe
an shore of Bosphorus in Emirgan. This house is used as the Sakıp Sabancı Museum
today.
He died, a self-made rich man, on February 22, 1966 in İstanbul. He is commemorated by the holding company of the group, Hacı Ömer Sabancı Holding, which was founded 1967 soon after his death in Adana. A charity institution, Hacı Ömer Sabancı Foundation "Vaksa" was established also in 1974 in Adana and named after him. The foundation built, among other things, a high school sports hall in İstanbul, a cultural center in Adana, dormitories in Ankara
and Adana, and primary schools in Kayseri and Van
, which are dedicated to him.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, who founded a number of companies, which later formed the second largest industrial and financial conglomerate of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the Sabancı Holding
Sabanci Holding
Hacı Ömer Sabancı Holding A.Ş., abbreviated as Sabancı Holding, is the largest industrial and financial conglomerate in Turkey by profit. The holding is owned at about 75% by the Sabancı family, one of Turkey's wealthiest. 3% is owned by the Sabancı University and the Sabancı Foundation. The...
. He initiated the establishment of a dynasty of Turkey's wealthiest businesspeople.
He was born in Akçakaya, a small village in Kayseri Province
Kayseri Province
The Kayseri Province , in central Turkey, is an area that has been linked with mythological stories as well as important figures in Turkish history. It is located in Anatolia, and surrounded by the Mount Erciyes, the Mount Hasan and the Mount Ali...
in central Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
, Turkey. In 1921, a couple of years after the death of his father, the then fifteen-year-old youngster left his hometown and walked all the way to Adana
Adana
Adana is a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean, in south-central Anatolia...
to seek his fortune. He started his new life as a cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
picker. Soon, he became a broker for cotton harvesters. With the money he saved in a few years, Hacı Ömer entered the cotton trade, and in 1932 became a co-owner of a cotton spinning
Spinning (textiles)
Spinning is a major industry. It is part of the textile manufacturing process where three types of fibre are converted into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. The textiles are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. There are three industrial processes available to spin yarn, and a...
plant. At that time, the people working for him called him "Aga" ("Boss"). In 1943, he became a partner of YağSA, and in 1946 of MarSA, both production plants of vegetable oil and margarine
Margarine
Margarine , as a generic term, can indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes, typically composed of vegetable oils. In many parts of the world, the market share of margarine and spreads has overtaken that of butter...
, respectively. In 1948 Hacı Ömer established his own bank Akbank
Akbank
Akbank is Turkey-based bank and was founded in Adana, Turkey on January 1948, originally to provide financing for the cotton producers in the Çukurova region. Growing and developing over time, the Bank opened its first branch in Istanbul in the district of Sirkeci on July 14, 1950, moving its...
. In 1951 in Adana he founded the textile company Bossa, which became the largest integrated textile facility in Turkey. In the following years, he founded Oralitsa (1954), a roofing material factory, and Aksigorta (1960), an insurance company.
In 1928, he married Sadıka (1910-1988), who bore him six sons, İhsan
Ihsan Sabanci
İhsan Sabancı , a second-generation member of the renowned Sabancı family, was a Turkish businessman. He was born in 1931 in the village of Akçakaya in Kayseri Province as the first of six sons of Hacı Ömer Sabancı and Sadıka...
(1931-1979), Sakıp
Sakip Sabanci
Sakıp Sabancı was a prominent Turkish business tycoon and philanthropist.Born as the second son of a cotton trader, he worked in all the ranks of his father's business without completing high school. He was the head of Turkey's largest business conglomerate and 147th richest man on the Forbes list...
(1933-2004), Hacı
Haci Sabanci
Hacı Sabancı , a member of the second generation of the renowned Sabancı family, was a Turkish businessman and philanthropist....
(1935-1998), Şevket
Sevket Sabanci
Şevket Sabancı , a member of the renowned Sabancı family in second generation, is a Turkish businessman and philanthropist.-Biography:...
(1936), Erol
Erol Sabanci
Erol Sabancı , a member of the renowned Sabancı family in second generation, is a billionaire Turkish banker.-Biography:Erol Sabancı is the Honorary Chairman of Akbank and the doyen of Turkish bankers...
(1938) and Özdemir
Özdemir Sabanci
Özdemir Sabancı was a Turkish businessman and a second generation member of the Sabancı family.-Biography:He was born in Adana, Turkey. After finishing the high school at the Tarsus American College in Tarsus, province Mersin, he received his B.A...
(1941-1996). Hacı Ömer Sabancı and his family moved to İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
after purchasing in 1951, a mansion known as "Atlı Köşk" ("Equestrian Villa") on the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an shore of Bosphorus in Emirgan. This house is used as the Sakıp Sabancı Museum
Sakip Sabanci Museum
The Sabancı University Sakıp Sabancı Museum is a private fine arts museum in Istanbul, Turkey, dedicated to calligraphic art, religious and state documents, as well as paintings of the Ottoman era. The museum was founded by Sakıp Sabancı, and was opened in June 2002...
today.
He died, a self-made rich man, on February 22, 1966 in İstanbul. He is commemorated by the holding company of the group, Hacı Ömer Sabancı Holding, which was founded 1967 soon after his death in Adana. A charity institution, Hacı Ömer Sabancı Foundation "Vaksa" was established also in 1974 in Adana and named after him. The foundation built, among other things, a high school sports hall in İstanbul, a cultural center in Adana, dormitories in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
and Adana, and primary schools in Kayseri and Van
Van, Turkey
Van is a city in southeastern Turkey and the seat of the Kurdish-majority Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's official population in 2010 was 367,419, but many estimates put this as much higher with a 1996 estimate stating 500,000 and former Mayor Burhan...
, which are dedicated to him.