Güler Sabanci
Encyclopedia
Güler Sabancı is a third-generation female member of the renowned Sabancı family
, and currently the chairperson of the family-controlled Sabancı Holding
, the second-biggest industrial and financial conglomerate of Turkey
.
and his wife Yüksel in 1955 in Adana
, Turkey. After finishing high school at TED Ankara College in Ankara
, she was educated in business administration at Boğaziçi University
in Istanbul. In 1978, she started her professional career at LasSA, a family-owned tire
production company in Kocaeli Province
. She was then appointed general manager of KordSA, a position she held for 14 years. Later, Güler Sabancı became a member of the board of directors at Sabancı Holding, heading the tires and reinforcement materials group, as well as having responsibility for human resources
.
In 2004, following the death of her uncle Sakıp Sabancı
, who had led Sabancı Holding since its foundation in 1967, Güler was appointed chairperson of the holding by her uncles Şevket
and Erol
. The same year The Wall Street Journal
selected her, the new boss of the US$25 billion business, as one of its "30 Most Powerful Women of Europe". In 2007, she was selected to be one of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women
by the Forbes
magazine. In 2009, the Financial Times listed Güler Sabancı 5th among the "Top 50 Women" in World Business.
Sabanci family
The Sabancı family is a dynasty of Turkish businesspeople founded by Hacı Ömer Sabancı, a self-made wealthy trader. Some second and third generation members of the family control today Turkey’s largest and prestigious group of companies, established mostly by the efforts of his son Sakıp Sabancı...
, and currently the chairperson of the family-controlled 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...
, the second-biggest 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...
.
Biography
Güler was born the daughter and first child of İhsan SabancıIhsan 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...
and his wife Yüksel in 1955 in 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...
, Turkey. After finishing high school at TED Ankara College 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....
, she was educated in business administration at Boğaziçi University
Bogaziçi University
Boğaziçi University is a public university located on the European side of the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul, Turkey. It has five faculties and two schools offering undergraduate degrees, and six institutes offering graduate degrees...
in Istanbul. In 1978, she started her professional career at LasSA, a family-owned tire
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
production company in Kocaeli Province
Kocaeli Province
Kocaeli Province is a province of Turkey. Its capital is İzmit, which is sometimes referred to as Kocaeli itself. The largest town in the province is now Gebze. The traffic code is 41. The province is located at the easternmost end of the Marmara Sea, especially on the Gulf of İzmit. Because of...
. She was then appointed general manager of KordSA, a position she held for 14 years. Later, Güler Sabancı became a member of the board of directors at Sabancı Holding, heading the tires and reinforcement materials group, as well as having responsibility for human resources
Human resources
Human resources is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations...
.
In 2004, following the death of her uncle Sakıp Sabancı
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...
, who had led Sabancı Holding since its foundation in 1967, Güler was appointed chairperson of the holding by her uncles Şevket
Sevket Sabanci
Şevket Sabancı , a member of the renowned Sabancı family in second generation, is a Turkish businessman and philanthropist.-Biography:...
and 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...
. The same year The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
selected her, the new boss of the US$25 billion business, as one of its "30 Most Powerful Women of Europe". In 2007, she was selected to be one of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women
Forbes Magazine's List of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women
Starting in 2004, Forbes magazine has made a list of the 100 most powerful women in the world. It is edited by editor Mary Ellen Egan, and based on visibility and economic impact...
by the Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine. In 2009, the Financial Times listed Güler Sabancı 5th among the "Top 50 Women" in World Business.
Awards and honors
- In 2006 Sabancı received the "Woman of Distinction Award" from the international relations group Daughters of Atatürk, an annual title bestowed on women who have "demonstrated vision, leadership, innovation and professionalism" in "giving their talents to the international Turkish community". Other 2006 honorees include Caroline FinkelCaroline FinkelCaroline Finkel is a British historian and writer based in Turkey, with a doctorate from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London....
, Anastasia Ashman, Jennifer GökmenJennifer Eaton GokmenJennifer Eaton Gökmen is an American writer and editor.-Background:Gökmen was born in Wayne, Michigan, graduated from Brentwood High School in 1989, and received her B.A...
, and Leslie Peirce. - In 2009 Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Elena SalgadoElena SalgadoElena Salgado Méndez is a Spanish politician currently serving as the First Vice President and Minister of Economy and Finance of Spain, in the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero...
honored Sabanci Holding Executive Board Chairperson Güler Sabancı with the Spanish Order of Civil Merit, "Encomienda de Numero" in a ceremony organized in the name of King Juan Carlos I of Spain. - In 2010, Sabancı was listed as the third businesswoman in Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
' '2010 Women at the Top ranking' of 50 prominent businesswomen around the world. - In 2011, Sabancı received a Clinton Global Citizen Award.