Fiat opens local office, appoints Pandir

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Former Tofaş CEO Ali Pandir will head operations at Fiat’s representative office in Istanbul. The office will make Fiat more visible and active in the Turkish market. AA photo

Italian Fiat has opened a representative office in Istanbul to become more active in the Turkish market, according to daily Milliyet, and has appointed Tofaş’s former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ali Pandır to head the operations.

The new company, called “Fiat Consulting and Representation Limited,” will pursue new business opportunities and the company’s major shareholder will be Fiat Gestione Partecipazioni, but Pandir will run the local operations.

Pandir told Milliyet the decision had been made by Fiat-Chrysler President Sergio Marchionne and that the new office would not just be for auditing and coordination.

“In short Turkey is an important and constantly developing country. So if there are new investment opportunities, we will pursue those in the name of Fiat,” said Pandir, adding that the new office would act as a business development arm for Fiat in Turkey.

“Of course if there are important business and investment opportunities, these will be evaluated,” he said.