Bülent Eczacıbaşı
Bülent Eczacıbaşı is a Turkish businessman. Currently, he serves as chairman of the board at Eczacıbaşı Holding, a prominent Turkish conglomerate.Background
He was born in 1949 to Nejat Eczacıbaşı, founder of the Eczacıbaşı Group of Companies, and his wife Fatma Beyhan in Istanbul. He has a younger brother Faruk, who was born in 1954.
Bülent Eczacıbaşı graduated from Imperial College London following his education at the Deutsche Schule Istanbul. He obtained his master's degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After initiating his professional career in 1974 at Eczacıbaşı Holding, he held a variety of managerial positions in subsidiaries.
Bülent Eczacibasi married on December 19, 1980 to Oya Esener, the daughter of the former Turkish Minister of Labour and Social Security Prof. Turhan Esener. The couple has a son Emre and a daughter Esra. Both Bülent and Oya were major benefactors to Istanbul's new Modern Art Museum. She is serving as the chair for museum's board.Civic Involvement
Bülent Eczacıbaşı served in a large number of civic associations, including TÜSIAD, the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association, where he was chairman of the board and chairman of the high advisory council. He was also founding chairman of the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation and chairman of the board of the Turkish Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers' Association. He continues to serve TÜSİAD as honorary chairman, TESEV as a member of the high advisory board, and the Turkish Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers' Association as honorary president.
He is also the chairman of the board of trustees of the İstanbul Modern Art Foundation, the chairman of the board of directors of İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and member of the International Advisory Boards of Harvard Kennedy School, Akbank and European Round Table of Industrialists.
