Nejat Eczacibasi
Encyclopedia
Mehmet Nejat Ferit Eczacıbaşı, known simply as Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı, (January 5, 1913–October 6, 1993), a second generation member of the notable Turkish
Eczacıbaşı family
, was a chemist
, industrialist, entrepreneur
and philanthropist
.
He was the founder of Eczacıbaşı
, a prominent Turkish industrial group
with investment
s in pharmaceuticals, personal care
products, consumer product
s, building products and financial services
.
, Ottoman Empire
to Süleyman Ferit (1885–April 18, 1973) and his wife Saffet Hanım as their first of seven sons, Vedat (1916–1961), Sedat (1917–ca. 1950), Kemal (1918–1996), Haluk (1921–1996), Melih (1923–2004), Şakir (1929–2010). His father was the first university-educated pharmacist
in the city of Izmir, who, while working at a hospital in his home town, was appointed "chief pharmacist" (. The city council awarded him later in 1909 the honorific title "Eczacıbaşı" for his fruitful and successful work. Süleyman Ferit ran in later years his own pharmacy in İzmir. With the introduction of the Surname Law
in 1934, Süleyman Ferit adopted his title "Eczacıbaşı" as family name.
in Istanbul, he went on to study in chemistry
at Heidelberg University. He made then his .
Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı used to say: "The meaning of life is best comprehended through the arts. The values which most exalt humankind are culture and the arts."
Throughout his life, he saw to it that every new business venture was complemented by an additional contribution to culture, science, arts and education. Today, the Eczacıbaşı Group has become a unique symbol in Turkey of the bridge that can be forged between culture and private enterprise.
Eczacıbaşı was one of the principal founders of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and the Arts, which was established in 1973 on the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. With the aim of transforming Istanbul into an "international capital of culture", the foundation initiated the annual International Istanbul Arts Festivals. Twenty years later, in recognition of the success of these festivals, UNESCO
awarded the foundation the International Arts and Culture Trophy.
The "Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Foundation", established by him in 1978, provides scholarships for talented musicians, annual cinema and graphic arts awards and grants to public schools and institutes for scientific research. It also publishes books by distinguished authors and is developing a collection of modern Turkish paintings. The Eczacibasi Sports Club, established jointly by Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı and his brother Şakir Eczacıbaşı in 1966, has trained innumerable young athletes and won a significant number of national and international championships in volleyball
, basketball
and table tennis
.
In all that he did, Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı endeavoured to improve the standard of life for future generations and had the satisfaction of seeing his life's achievements contribute to these high aspirations.
His memories of the early years of the Turkish Republic and of the growth of Turkish industry are recounted in his book "Generation to Generation" (1982). "Experiences and Expectations", published in 1994 soon after he died, recounts the lessons he drew from his unique experiences and the convictions that guided his life.
Nejat Eczacıbaşı used to say that "the real measure of private entrepreneurship is the success with which it increases the wealth of the community as a whole". Dr. Eczacıbaşı also sustained that lasting success requires hard work, risks and innovation. "Success comes not to those who choose the easy path, but to those who dare to embrace innovations and advances." Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı lived by these convictions.
(1949) and Faruk (1954).
, USA, he went there for cataract surgery
.
His body was transferred to Istanbul, and was interred at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery
.
for the successful Istanbul Festival, he co-founded. In 1975 he was awarded with the "Medal of Honor" by the Turkish Red Crescent
, in 1976 with the Order of Merit by the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1983, the Turkish Chemistry Association honored him for his contribution to the industry.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Eczacıbaşı family
Eczacıbaşı family
The Eczabaşıbaşı family is a dynasty of Turkish businesspeople founded by Süleyman Ferit Eczacıbaşı, a self-made wealthy pharmacist. Third generation members of the family control today Turkey’s prestigious companies, established mostly by the efforts of his son Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı...
, was a chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, industrialist, 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...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
He was the founder of Eczacıbaşı
Eczacibasi
Eczacıbaşı Holding is a prominent Turkish industrial group of companies founded in 1942 by Eczacıbaşı family. The group with 39 companies has 10,100 employees and a combined net turnover of € 2.1 billion in 2010.-Group:...
, a prominent Turkish industrial group
Industrial group
Industrial group may refer to:* Industry, a segment of the economy* Industrial Revolution, the development of industry in the 19th century* Industrial society, one that has undergone industrialization* Industrial engineering group...
with investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
s in pharmaceuticals, personal care
Personal care
Personal care or toiletries is the industry which manufactures consumer products used for beautification and in personal hygiene.-Subsectors:Subsectors of personal care include cosmetics and feminine hygiene....
products, consumer product
Consumer product
A consumer product is generally any tangible personal property for sale and that is used for personal, family, or household for non-business purposes. The determination whether a good is a consumer product requires a factual finding, on a case-by-case basis...
s, building products and financial services
Financial services
Financial services refer to services provided by the finance industry. The finance industry encompasses a broad range of organizations that deal with the management of money. Among these organizations are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, consumer finance companies,...
.
Birth and family name
He was born on January 5, 1913 in IzmirIzmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
to Süleyman Ferit (1885–April 18, 1973) and his wife Saffet Hanım as their first of seven sons, Vedat (1916–1961), Sedat (1917–ca. 1950), Kemal (1918–1996), Haluk (1921–1996), Melih (1923–2004), Şakir (1929–2010). His father was the first university-educated pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
in the city of Izmir, who, while working at a hospital in his home town, was appointed "chief pharmacist" (. The city council awarded him later in 1909 the honorific title "Eczacıbaşı" for his fruitful and successful work. Süleyman Ferit ran in later years his own pharmacy in İzmir. With the introduction of the Surname Law
Surname Law (Turkey)
The Surname Law of the Republic of Turkey was adopted on June 21, 1934. The law required all citizens of Turkey to adopt the use of surnames. Turkey's Christian and Jewish citizens were already using surnames, but Muslims generally did not use Western-style surnames...
in 1934, Süleyman Ferit adopted his title "Eczacıbaşı" as family name.
Education
Nejat Eczacıbaşı completed his primary and secondary education in İzmir. After finishing the high school at Robert CollegeRobert College
Robert College of Istanbul , is one of the most selective independent private high schools in Turkey. Robert College is a co-educational, boarding school with a wooded campus on the European side of Istanbul between the two bridges on the Bosphorus, with the Arnavutköy district to the east, and...
in Istanbul, he went on to study in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at Heidelberg University. He made then his .
Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı used to say: "The meaning of life is best comprehended through the arts. The values which most exalt humankind are culture and the arts."
Throughout his life, he saw to it that every new business venture was complemented by an additional contribution to culture, science, arts and education. Today, the Eczacıbaşı Group has become a unique symbol in Turkey of the bridge that can be forged between culture and private enterprise.
Eczacıbaşı was one of the principal founders of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and the Arts, which was established in 1973 on the 50th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. With the aim of transforming Istanbul into an "international capital of culture", the foundation initiated the annual International Istanbul Arts Festivals. Twenty years later, in recognition of the success of these festivals, UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
awarded the foundation the International Arts and Culture Trophy.
The "Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Foundation", established by him in 1978, provides scholarships for talented musicians, annual cinema and graphic arts awards and grants to public schools and institutes for scientific research. It also publishes books by distinguished authors and is developing a collection of modern Turkish paintings. The Eczacibasi Sports Club, established jointly by Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı and his brother Şakir Eczacıbaşı in 1966, has trained innumerable young athletes and won a significant number of national and international championships in volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
.
In all that he did, Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı endeavoured to improve the standard of life for future generations and had the satisfaction of seeing his life's achievements contribute to these high aspirations.
His memories of the early years of the Turkish Republic and of the growth of Turkish industry are recounted in his book "Generation to Generation" (1982). "Experiences and Expectations", published in 1994 soon after he died, recounts the lessons he drew from his unique experiences and the convictions that guided his life.
Nejat Eczacıbaşı used to say that "the real measure of private entrepreneurship is the success with which it increases the wealth of the community as a whole". Dr. Eczacıbaşı also sustained that lasting success requires hard work, risks and innovation. "Success comes not to those who choose the easy path, but to those who dare to embrace innovations and advances." Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı lived by these convictions.
Family
Nejat F. Ezacıbaşı married in 1946 to Fatma Beyhan (née Ergene) (1923–2004). The couple has two sons, BülentBülent Eczacibasi
Bülent Eczacıbaşı is a Turkish wealthy businessman. Currently, he is the chairman of Eczacıbaşı Holding, a prominent Turkish industrial group with investments in pharmaceuticals, personal care products, consumer products, building products and financial services.He was born in 1949 to Nejat...
(1949) and Faruk (1954).
Death
Nejat F. Eczabaşıbaşı died on October 6, 1993 in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA, he went there for cataract surgery
Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery is the removal of the natural lens of the eye that has developed an opacification, which is referred to as a cataract. Metabolic changes of the crystalline lens fibers over time lead to the development of the cataract and loss of transparency, causing impairment or loss of vision...
.
His body was transferred to Istanbul, and was interred at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery
Zincirlikuyu Cemetery
The Zincirlikuyu Cemetery is a modern burial ground at the European part of Istanbul, Turkey. It is administered by the Metropolitan Municipality. Many prominent figures from the world of politics, business, sports and arts rest here....
.
Awards
He was honored in 1974 by the Council of EuropeCouncil of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
for the successful Istanbul Festival, he co-founded. In 1975 he was awarded with the "Medal of Honor" by the Turkish Red Crescent
Turkish Red Crescent
Turkish Red Crescent is the largest humanitarian organization in Turkey and is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement....
, in 1976 with the Order of Merit by the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1983, the Turkish Chemistry Association honored him for his contribution to the industry.