Hamdi Akın

Born in 1954 in Istanbul, graduated from the Department of the Mechanical Engineering of Gazi University, Akın is a prominent Turkish business leader, with 35 years of experience in creating attractive opportunities with first mover advantage across sectors. Akın founded Akfen Holding in 1976 which is a diversified holding company, listed in İstanbul Stock Exchange and engaged in Airports Construction and Operations, Ports Operations, Energy, Construction, Water & Waste Water Utilities, Fast Ferry Operations and Real Estate. Akın is currently the Chairman of Akfen Holding. In addition to his role in Akfen, Akın also acts as the Chairman of TAV Airports Holding since 2005. TAV was established as a Tepe-Akfen partnership and was awarded the İstanbul Airport tender, had an IPO in 2007, currently TAV is a leading airport/ terminal operator holding concessions/BOT of 4 airports in Turkey and 7 abroad. In 2006, he founded Akfen REIT with a strategic partnership with Accor Group to develop 3-4 star city hotels in Turkey and Russia. Akfen REIT currently holds a portfolio of 11 operational hotels and was listed in İstanbul Stock Exchange in 2011. In 2005, Akfen-PSA JV won the operating rights of the Mersin Port (MIP) until 2043 and started operations in 2007, MIP is the 2nd largest container port in Turkey and has been the largest export-import port in 2010. Akın also acts as the Chairman of the Board of MIP. In 2005, Akfen won 20 yr concession tender for motor vehicle inspection services together with TUV Sud AG and Doğuş Otomotiv, signed concession agreement in 2007 and sold its stake to Bridgepoint in 2009. In 2005, Akfen also established a JV with Kardan for TASK, the only private water utility concession operator in Turkey. In 2003, TAV Construction founded, which is the 4th largest airport/terminal construction company worldwide according to ENR Magazine 2010. Recently in 2011, Akfen won the privatisation of İstanbul Fast Ferry in a consortium with Tepe, Sera and Sauter.

In addition to this entrepreneurial achievements, Akın has been undertaking responsibilities as a founder and director in many associations, foundations and NGOs. Akın served as the Vice President of Fenerbahçe Sports Club from 2000 to 2002, the President of Ankara Region Representative Council of the Turkish Metal Industrialists' Union (MESS) from 1992 to 2004, the President of Turkish Young Businessmen's Association (TÜGİAD) from 1998 to 2000, a Board Member of Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK) from 1995 to 2001, a Board Member of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD) and the President of Information Society and New Technologies Committee from 2008 to 2009. He is one of the founders of the Chair in Contemporary Turkish Studies at the London School of Economics; and the Founding Member and the Honorary Chairman of the Human Resources Foundation of Turkey (TİKAV), which he co-founded in 1999 in order to provide well-educated human resources for Turkey. In 2011, Akın became the Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Abdullah Gül University.

Some Awards of Hamdi Akın;

• 2004 - The Chair of the Honor Commitee of The Traditional Economy organized by Dunya Neswpaper elected him ‘Businessman of the Year’
• 2004 - ‘Businessman of the Year in the Economy Award’ by Yeni Para(New Money) magazine
• 2005 - ‘Businessman of the Year’ Award by the National Productivity Center
• 2006 - ‘IDE 2006’- ‘Best of the Business World-Entrepreneur Businessman Award’ by the TV Channel CNBC-e
• 2006 - ‘Businessman of the Year’, 2006 Turkey’s Success Awards by True Magazine and TIKAD( Turkish Businesswomen’s Association
• 2010 - ‘Businessman of the Year Award’ by EGSİAD in White Gold Turkey Entrepreneurship Awards
• 2010 - ‘Businessman of the Year Award’ by EKOVITRIN in ‘Stars of the Year’