Founder

Vehbi Koc was born in 1901 in Corakli, Ankara. His ancestors on his mother’s side (Kutukcuzadeler) were 600 years and on his father’s side (Koczadeler) 250 years residents of Ankara. He was the only son of Koczade Mustafa Efendi.

Vehbi Koc first attended the local primary school "Topal Hoca'nin Mektebi" and later another school in the district of Hacibayram. He then attended the “Taş Mektep” idadi which was the equivalent of today’s high school.

Vehbi Koc finished school when he was 15 and started his working career.

From his life story it is understood that his first working place was a small store in the Karaoglan district which is the famous Ulus Square today(1917). In 1926 the Koc Group was officially foundedTwhen his firm called "Koczade Ahmet Vehbi" was registered at the Ankara Chamber of Commerce.

The vision of Koc expanded when Ankara became the capitol turning to construction sector and construction materials. After 1928 he became the representative of Ford and Standard Oil (presently Mobil). Following establishment of branch offices in Istanbul and Eskişehir in 1938 Koc gathered its enterprises under the company Koc Ticaret Anonim Şirketi.

After the Turkish Republic turned to industrialization he signed an agreement with General Electric in 1948 to build a light bulb factory. Later Bozkurt Mensucat, Arcelik, Demir Dokum, Turkay, Aygaz, Gazal, Turk Elektrik Endustrisi factories and a joint cable factory with Siemens were founded. In addition tractor production started under the Fiat licence.

The first initiative by Koc in the automotive sector turned eventually to a full scale industry in the automotive sector. Following an agreement with Ford in 1959 to assemble trucks todays prominent automotive company Otosan came to life.

Following the production of the first domestic car Anadol and in line with improving economic activities in Turkey Vehbi Koc collaborated with the Italian company Fiat to establish Tofaş resulting in the production of the second domestic car Murat. Todays giant automotive industry and the supporting industries all stemmed from the tiny spark initiated by Vehbi Koc.

Vehbi Koc collected all of the companies bearing his name under the same roof in 1963 and founded Koc Holding A.Ş. achieving a major step in the economic life of Turkey. The holdings era in Turkey started with this step by Vehbi Koc and a great number of businessman followed him.

Vehbi Koc passed away on February 25, 1996.