Vehbi Koç

Turkey, manufacturing. Koç opened a small grocery shop in Ankara in 1917 and, as the new republic built its capital, moved into building supplies and the import of cars and appliances. In 1963 he formed Koç Holding, Turkey's first holding company, which made refrigerators, cars and trucks at home under brands such as Arçelik and Ford Otosan. He died in 1996.