Business world mourns late Demirören Group chairman, Erdoğan Demirören

ISTANBUL

The Turkish business world is in mourning after the death of Erdoğan Demirören, the chair of the Demirören Group, on June 8.

Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu: “The business world has lost a very valuable doyen with the loss of Mr. Demirören. May God rest Demirören, who has dedicated his life to Turkey’s economic development and social projects. I offer my condolences to Demirören’s family, his relatives, Demirören Holding, and the Turkish business world.”

Adnan Polat (Polat Holding Chair): “I express my condolences to those who loved him and his family. May God rest him. We used to call him ‘Brother Erdoğan’ and we have known the family for many years. He was a person who treated us with love. As a businessman he used to work day and night, devoting himself to the business world and his family. I have always had good memories with him. Just four or five days ago, I spoke to his son Yıldırım Demirören, who told me that his father was in the hospital. I wish patience for his family.”

Nihat Özdemir (Limak Holding Chair): “Demirören used to say that Turkey’s future would very good. We just had to put heart and soul into it and the country would be very great. We had to look at it with hope. May he rest in peace. He always used to acknowledge that media work was a duty, saying the media was important for Turkey’s future.” 

Abdullah Kiğılı (The owner of the Kığılı clothing stores): “He was an elder who we all respected and loved. He would tell of his experiences to everyone around him and guide them. Turkey has lost a very valuable businessman. May he rest in peace, I offer condolences to his family. Both the sports and the business world has lost a very valuable person. We are very sorry. Hopefully his children will continue the legacy of this great name. 

Tuncay Özilhan (Anadolu Holding Chair): “I express my condolences to his family. We built a friendship and he was a person who contributed to our Turkey, serving as a leader. He was a comrade. I am very saddened. He offered support for Turkey’s development and it will be very difficult to step into his shoes. We learned so much from him.”

Kenan Yavuz (SOCAR Turkey’s former CEO): “Mr. Demirören was one of the doyens of the Turkish energy sector. After the energy sector he stepped into the Turkish media world. He was an important businessman standing by the country’s interests. In years that Turkey went through difficult times in terms of energy obtainment, in the years when fuel oil could not found to be burned even at the Prime Ministry in 1978 and 1979, Mr. Demirören did significant work towards energy consumption. Afterwards, he was always present in the energy sector. He was a person who created an awareness in every initiation and who gave all his time to his work.”