Prominent Turkish businessman Mustafa Koç (55) loses his life after a heart attack
Leading Turkish businessman Mustafa Koç dies of heart attack aged 55
Mustafa Koç leader of KOÇ HOLDING, Turkey’s largest conglomerate, passed away at 55 years of age, after a heart attack on Jan. 21.
It was announced by doctors at the AMERICAN HOSPITAL of the Vehbi Koç Foundation he did not survive from a heart attack and lost his life despite all efforts.
Mr. KOÇ had aa heart attack during a workout session where he lived and the first aid was provided by his guard after which he was brought to Beykoz Hospital. Thereafter, Koç was transferred to AMERICAN HOSPITAL by helicopter, where he lost his life at age of 55.
The Beykoz State Hospital had said Koç suffered a heart attack while exercising. First aid was provided by his bodyguard and exercise coach and he had been resuscitated at the hospital, it added.
Koç Holding also expressed “deep sorrow” on its Twitter account, sending its condolences while also noting that its chairman lost his life despite all medical efforts. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also reportedly called Rahmi Koç and Ali Koç to offer his condolences to the family.
Born in 1960, Koç was educated at the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz in Switzerland and graduated from George Washington University in 1984. As a third-generation member of the Koç family, he was appointed president of Koç Holding in 2003, replacing his retired father, Rahmi Koç. During his term, a number of Koç businesses posted very high growth levels and became much more global.
Koç Holding has been the only Turkish business group on the Fortune 500 Global List. According to latest data from the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, there are five Koç companies in Turkey’s largest industry companies. Koç Holding owns Turkey’s oil refinery, Tüpraş, two major automotive producers in metal, Tofaş and Ford Otosan, home appliance maker Arçelik and LPG for cars and bottled gas retailer Aygaz on the İSO’s latest annual list. The group also owns Yapı Kredi Bank, fuel distribution company Opet and defense maker Otokar, among others.
Turkish energy giant Tüpraş was also named the country’s export champion in 2014, while its partnered foreign carmakers dominated the top 10 list of leading exporters, according to a survey by the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly
On the top ten list, car maker Ford, a joint venture of Ford and Koç Holding, followed Tüpraş. Arçelik was in the sixth spot, followed by Italian automotive giant Fiat’s local partner with Koç Holding, Tofaş.
Koç Holding made around 45 percent of Turkey’s car production and 43 percent of the country’s total car exports. Its share in the country’s total exports is around 10 percent.
JANUARY 21ST, 2016
SOURCE: MEDIA
