Aydin Dogan
Encyclopedia
Aydın Doğan is a Turkish
entrepreneur and businessman.
, Aydin Dogan got his elementary and secondary school education in Kelkit and finished high-school in Erzincan
. Between 1956-60, he attended Istanbul Economy and Commerce Academy (later Marmara University
) where his leadership qualities were first recognized helping him to become the Student Community Leader.
In 1959, he got registered in Mecidiyekoy Tax Office and started his professional life trading construction equipment, as well as passenger and commercial vehicles.
Dogan founded his first industrial company in 1974 and joined both the Assembly and the Administrative Board of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce
. In the years that followed, he served as a board member in the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey.
Dogan became a publisher with the acquisition of the daily newspaper Milliyet
in 1979. With the addition of the prestigious daily newspaper Hurriyet
in 1994, he intensified his presence in the media. Between 1986 and 1996, he served as the head of the Association of Turkish Newspaper Publishers. In 2004, Doğan became the first elected Turkish Deputy Chairperson of World Association of Newspapers
(WAN). The Doğan Media Holding he founded incorporates the newspapers Posta
, Hürriyet, Milliyet, Radikal
, Fanatik, Referans, Vatan
and Turkish Daily News, and 21 TV channels in Turkey and abroad.
In 1999, he was awarded Turkey
's Outstanding Service Medal by the Turkish Government. He received four honorary doctorates in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005 respectively from Girne American University
, Ege University
, Baku State University
and Marmara University
.
He establlished Aydın Doğan Foundation in 1996, bringing the social, cultural, educational activities of the Doğan Holding
under the same umbrella. To date, 8 schools and a large sports complex have been built and named after him and family members. While mainly focusing on education, the foundation is also involved in organizing national and international conferences, conventions and seminars on economic, social, cultural and scientific issues. As part of its social and cultural activities, the foundation also conducts national and international competitions and awards prizes, such as the Aydın Doğan Award and the Aydın Doğan International Cartoon Competition, the world's largest and most respected in this field.
Since 1977, Dogan has been the top taxpayer registered with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce
several times. Out of this company founded with three employees in 1961, he created one of Turkey's top three largest conglomerates with over 18,000 employees. Today, Doğan Holding
is active in the fields of energy distribution, media, industry, trade, tourism and financial services.
In 2009, the Ministry of Finance charged a tax fine in amount of about 3.8 billion Turkish Lira
(approx. 2.53 billion USD) to some companies within the Doğan Media Holding. He was not able to regulate the dispute.
He retired from the top of the Doğan Holding
as of January 1, 2010, handing over the post to his daughter Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ
, who is the chairperson of the TV channel Kanal D
and currently serving as head of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
(TÜSİAD), the top association of businesspeople in Turkey. Aydın Doğan will be the honorary president of the holding.
Aydın Doğan is compared to Rupert Murdoch
in Turkey. Aydın Doğan's Doğan Media Group has been compared to Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation
. The Doğan Media Group has excessive power over visual and print media in Turkey
. Its ad
revenues are also substantial.
Aydın Doğan is married and has four children.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
entrepreneur and businessman.
Biography
Born in 1936 as a member of a well-known family in KelkitKelkit
Kelkit is a town and district of Gümüşhane Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. According to the 2010 census, population of the district is 39,547 of which 13,784 live in the town of Kelkit. The district covers an area of , and the town lies at an elevation of .Kelkit is one of the cities of...
, Aydin Dogan got his elementary and secondary school education in Kelkit and finished high-school in Erzincan
Erzincan
-Trivia:Erzincan has the largest man made of Portrait of Atatürk, located north of the city, 176m×43m. It covers 7,500 square meter. Turkish Army made it 1982, in 29 days by 3,000 soldier, 100 tons of black and white paint was used...
. Between 1956-60, he attended Istanbul Economy and Commerce Academy (later Marmara University
Marmara University
Marmara University is a public university in Turkey. Situated in Istanbul, Marmara University has succeeded in becoming the second largest university in the whole country...
) where his leadership qualities were first recognized helping him to become the Student Community Leader.
In 1959, he got registered in Mecidiyekoy Tax Office and started his professional life trading construction equipment, as well as passenger and commercial vehicles.
Dogan founded his first industrial company in 1974 and joined both the Assembly and the Administrative Board of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce
The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce is an institution that organizes and records the commercial transactions of individuals and commercial institutions located in Istanbul; in addition the ICOC also keeps records for these companies...
. In the years that followed, he served as a board member in the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey.
Dogan became a publisher with the acquisition of the daily newspaper Milliyet
Milliyet
Milliyet is a major Turkish daily newspaper founded in 1950.-History:Milliyet came to publishing life at the Nuri Akça press in Babıali, Istanbul as a daily private newspaper on 3 May 1950...
in 1979. With the addition of the prestigious daily newspaper Hurriyet
Hürriyet
-External links:* * ** * *...
in 1994, he intensified his presence in the media. Between 1986 and 1996, he served as the head of the Association of Turkish Newspaper Publishers. In 2004, Doğan became the first elected Turkish Deputy Chairperson of World Association of Newspapers
World Association of Newspapers
The World Association of Newspapers is a non-profit, non-governmental organization made up of 76 national newspaper associations, 12 news agencies, 10 regional press organisations and individual newspaper executives in 100 countries...
(WAN). The Doğan Media Holding he founded incorporates the newspapers Posta
Posta (newspaper)
Posta is a mass market Turkish daily newspaper, with the second highest circulation in Turkey. It was founded in 1995 and has a daily circulation of approximately 516,000...
, Hürriyet, Milliyet, Radikal
Radikal
Radikal is a daily Turkish language newspaper, published in Istanbul. It has been published since 1997 by Aydın Doğan's Doğan Media Group ....
, Fanatik, Referans, Vatan
Vatan
Vatan is a Turkish daily newspaper.A newspaper in Turkey founded in 2002, it is increasingly becoming one of the most popular.As of March 2011, Vatan newspaper had the 15th highest circulation in Turkey at 111,489....
and Turkish Daily News, and 21 TV channels in Turkey and abroad.
In 1999, he was awarded 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...
's Outstanding Service Medal by the Turkish Government. He received four honorary doctorates in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005 respectively from Girne American University
Girne American University
Girne American University is located in Kyrenia, a city in the northern area of Cyprus. The university was founded in 1985 as an independent, non-profit institution of American-style higher education. Today, GAU is an international university with campuses in Cyprus, Singapore, UK and US.On-line...
, Ege University
Ege University
Ege University is a public university in İzmir, Turkey. It was founded in 1955 with the Faculties of Medicine and Faculty of Agriculture...
, Baku State University
Baku State University
Baku State University is a public university located in Baku, Azerbaijan. Established in 1919 by the Parliament of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the University started with faculties of history and philology; physics and mathematics; law and medicine with an initial enrollment of 1094...
and Marmara University
Marmara University
Marmara University is a public university in Turkey. Situated in Istanbul, Marmara University has succeeded in becoming the second largest university in the whole country...
.
He establlished Aydın Doğan Foundation in 1996, bringing the social, cultural, educational activities of the Doğan Holding
Dogan Holding
Doğan Holding is one of the top industrial conglomerates in Turkey operating in the energy, media, industry, trade, insurance and tourism industries...
under the same umbrella. To date, 8 schools and a large sports complex have been built and named after him and family members. While mainly focusing on education, the foundation is also involved in organizing national and international conferences, conventions and seminars on economic, social, cultural and scientific issues. As part of its social and cultural activities, the foundation also conducts national and international competitions and awards prizes, such as the Aydın Doğan Award and the Aydın Doğan International Cartoon Competition, the world's largest and most respected in this field.
Since 1977, Dogan has been the top taxpayer registered with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce
The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce is an institution that organizes and records the commercial transactions of individuals and commercial institutions located in Istanbul; in addition the ICOC also keeps records for these companies...
several times. Out of this company founded with three employees in 1961, he created one of Turkey's top three largest conglomerates with over 18,000 employees. Today, Doğan Holding
Dogan Holding
Doğan Holding is one of the top industrial conglomerates in Turkey operating in the energy, media, industry, trade, insurance and tourism industries...
is active in the fields of energy distribution, media, industry, trade, tourism and financial services.
In 2009, the Ministry of Finance charged a tax fine in amount of about 3.8 billion Turkish Lira
Turkish lira
The Turkish lira is the currency of Turkey and the de facto independent state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The lira is subdivided into 100 kuruş...
(approx. 2.53 billion USD) to some companies within the Doğan Media Holding. He was not able to regulate the dispute.
He retired from the top of the Doğan Holding
Dogan Holding
Doğan Holding is one of the top industrial conglomerates in Turkey operating in the energy, media, industry, trade, insurance and tourism industries...
as of January 1, 2010, handing over the post to his daughter Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ
Arzuhan Yalçindag
Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, née Doğan, is the daughter of the Turkish media proprietor Aydın Doğan and a businesswoman. On January 1, 2010, she became the chairwoman of the Doğan Holding as her father stepped down...
, who is the chairperson of the TV channel Kanal D
Kanal D
Kanal D is a nation-wide television channel in Turkey and part of Doğan Holding which is owned by the Turkish media tycoon Aydın Doğan.Kanal D also runs an international channel, Euro D which is available online....
and currently serving as head of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association is the top business association of Turkey. The current head is Ümit Boyner.The association was established in 1971....
(TÜSİAD), the top association of businesspeople in Turkey. Aydın Doğan will be the honorary president of the holding.
Aydın Doğan is compared to Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
in Turkey. Aydın Doğan's Doğan Media Group has been compared to Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation
News Corporation
News Corporation or News Corp. is an American multinational media conglomerate. It is the world's second-largest media conglomerate as of 2011 in terms of revenue, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009, although the BBC remains the world's largest broadcaster...
. The Doğan Media Group has excessive power over visual and print media in 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...
. Its ad
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
revenues are also substantial.
Aydın Doğan is married and has four children.
Awards
- 1999 Turkish "State Medal of Distinguished ServiceState Medal of Distinguished Service (Turkey)State Medal of Distinguished Service is one of the three civil state decorations of Turkey. The medal was established on October 24, 1983 with the Law on Medals and Orders, Act No. 2933...
" by the Turkish President Süleyman DemirelSüleyman DemirelSami Süleyman Gündoğdu Demirel, better known as Süleyman Demirel , is a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister seven times and was the ninth President of Turkey.-Life:Demirel was born in İslamköy, a town in Isparta Province...
.