Our Founder

Message from the Honorary Chairman

The year 2025 was marked both by uncertainty and a search for balance in the global economy. Macroeconomic and technological developments, together with political decisions, have significantly impacted trade and the financial markets. On a global scale, particularly in the United States, the implementation of new tariffs and protectionist trade measures have reshaped international trade balances. These developments have required more careful management of cost structures, supply chains and planning processes across many sectors, notably industrials, raw materials and logistics. Against such a backdrop, flexibility has become as critical as predictability as a core management principle. The European Security Conference held in Munich in February, along with prior discussions among European Union member states, has ushered in a new era in European history. The profound changes unfolding in this region - where Türkiye maintains its strongest economic and strategic ties - mean it is imperative for our companies to engage in serious and creative strategic preparation in order to effectively adapt to this transformation.

As a country that has witnessed such diverse economic and political cycles over many years, Türkiye was also closely impacted by regional developments in 2025. In this context, the diversification of export markets, strengthening of domestic production capacity and a focus on high value-added investments have once again demonstrated their importance in prudent and sustainable growth. For the business world, 2025 has been a year where cautious decisionmaking, preserving cash balances and prioritizing efficiency gained increased significance. Within this framework, the determined continuation of monetary tightening policies has contributed to a gradual improvement in the inflation outlook, strengthened financial stability and a recovery in expectations, thereby laying a healthier foundation for the medium term.

Doğan Group delivered performance in line with our 2025 targets. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our employees for their dedicated efforts throughout the year, as well as our stakeholders and business partners for their continued trust.

Dear Colleagues,

The year 2025 was also a significant period for our Group. My daughter, Begümhan Doğan Faralyalı, who successfully led the Board of Directors for 13 years - which included some of our most challenging periods - has passed on the baton of chairing Doğan Holding to her esteemed sister, Hanzade Doğan.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Begümhan Doğan Faralyalı for her valuable contributions to the development of our institution and for guiding our Group with responsible leadership, a vision of creating value for society, a strong belief in transformation and the unwavering determination she displayed throughout her tenure. The institutional structure established and the continuity built during this period have formed a solid foundation for where we stand today. I firmly believe that her dedication and contributions will continue to create lasting value for the future of our Group.

I am fully confident that Hanzade Doğan, with her entrepreneurial spirit, strategic vision, knowledge, and determination will carry our Group to even higher echelons. Her track record of achievement, innovative mindset, ability to interpret changing conditions with prudence and long-term valueoriented approach will further strengthen our path forward. Under her leadership, I wholeheartedly believe that our Group will maintain its stable growth, move forward with greater confidence and create new value for our country.

Doğan Group delivered performance in line with our 2025 targets. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our employees for their dedicated efforts throughout the year, as well as our stakeholders and business partners for their continued trust. With this conviction, we will remain fully committed to generating sustainable value and contributing to society.

Our fundamental priority is, and will always be, to contribute to our country’s economy and society.

Aydın DOĞAN
Honorary Chairman
Doğan Holding

Aydın Doğan

Aydın Doğan was born in 1936 in Kelkit, Gümüşhane to a prominent family of the region. He went to primary and junior high school in Kelkit and high school in Erzincan, before studying at İstanbul College for Economics and Commerce. At the college, he chaired the Student Association. In 1959, he was registered in Mecidiyeköy Tax Office, and started to trade automobiles, commercial vehicles and construction machinery. In 1961, he set up his first private company, which was active in wholesale trade until 1970.

In 1974, Aydın Doğan established a new company stepping into industry, and was elected to İstanbul Chamber of Commerce's Assembly and Board of Directors, and to Board of Directors of The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey in the following years.

After successful business initiatives in the fields of commerce, industry and real estate, he took over the daily Milliyet in 1979, thus stepping into the press. In 1994, he acquired the newspaper Hürriyet, thus further reinforcing his clout and continuing his ascent in the media industry. Furthermore, he has founded the newspapers Posta and Fanatik, which would go on to reach immense success. In TV broadcasting, he has created the brands Kanal D and CNN Türk, as well as Kanal D Romania. He has established companies that lead the pack in book publishing, music broadcasting, digital publishing and distribution such as Doğan Kitap, Doğan Burda Magazine Group and DMC. He has extended his achievements abroad and also established Turkey’s first media brands featuring international partners.

From 1986 until 1996, he served as the president of Turkish Union of Newspaper Owners. In 2004, he became the first Turk to be elected to the Board of Directors of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).

While growing in the media industry, he has continued to invest in other areas as well. To his companies in the automotive, insurance and tourism industries, he has added banking and finance institutions. He has breathed new life into mass marketing with MilPA, and gone on to create one of Turkey's greatest brand in the retail industry: D&R. Doğan has later expanded his operations towards fuel retailing, mining and renewable energy.

He was granted State Medal of Distinguished Service in 1999 and Turkish Parliament’s Medal of Distinguished Service in 2007 In 2009, he received The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his contributions to the integration of German citizens of Turkish origin to German society through his efforts at Germany Integration Foundation, established through an initiative by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and of which Doğan is a founding member. He was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by Girne American University in 1999, followed by Ege University, Baku State University and Marmara University in 2000, 2001 and 2005 respectively.

For 60 years, the companies founded by Aydın Doğan under the umbrella of Doğan Holding have assumed pioneering and innovative roles in the business world, while fervently upholding the vital principles of honesty and transparency.

His vision has introduced groundbreaking changes in many fields from the media to marketing, from manufacturing to banking in Turkey. He has undertaken investments to create employment in Anatolia, where he was born and raised. In all his activities, he has aspired to national success as well as global prestige. While closely monitoring developments in Turkey and abroad, he has established strategic alliances with international groups across a vast region. In every business, he has adhered to a philosophy of quality and service that "holds the promise to the customer above all else". He has embraced a dynamic management approach open to change in his companies. He has upheld the values of gratitude, responsibility, transparency and collective achievement as integral parts of corporate culture. The corporate and ethical values embraced by the Holding have set an example to other groups in the business community.

In 1996, he has established Aydın Doğan Foundation, gathering under a single roof the wide array of services he had been providing to society; he has focused the Foundation's activities in the fields of education, culture, public health, scientific research, sports and economics. Across Turkey, he has built many schools, dormitories, gyms and parks named after him and his family members. The Foundation has been organizing for 25 years Aydın Doğan International Cartoon Competition, one of the most reputable award organizations in the world, and supporting students of communication through the Young Communicators' Competition. In addition, granted every year since 1996, Aydın Doğan Award has supported progress in various fields of culture and arts, ranging from literature to music, from architecture to social sciences.

Since 1977, Aydın Doğan has figured among the tax champions of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. He has transformed his company, which consisted of three people in 1961, into one of Turkey's foremost business offering employment to 20 thousand individuals through its subsidiaries, strategic partnerships and commercial agencies.

Having largely withdrawn from the media industry in 2018, Aydın Doğan currently guides electricity generation, petroleum product retail, industry&trade, automotive trade&marketing, finance&investment and internet&entertainment and real estate investment companies of Doğan Holding, of which he is the Honorary Chairperson, thus continuing to work and produce.

One of Turkey's foremost investors, Aydın Doğan is currently seeking new investment opportunities to add value to Turkey, together with her four daughters who represent the second generation in his companies.