Bülent Eczacıbaşı
Chairperson of Eczacıbaşı HoldingBülent Eczacıbaşı is chairperson of Eczacıbaşı Holding, a family-held Turkish business group headquartered in Istanbul with core operations in building products, consumer products, healthcare, and natural resources. His father, Nejat Eczacıbaşı, who came from a pharmaceutical family in Izmir, established his first company in Istanbul in 1942, a success that grew with the modernization of Turkey’s economy. Bülent Eczacıbaşı entered the business in 1974 and held various positions in Eczacıbaşı Group companies before becoming chairperson in 1995.
Building and leading Turkey’s prominent business associations has been a priority for the Eczacıbaşı family. Bülent Eczacıbaşı served as president (1991–1993) of TÜSİAD, the Turkish Industry and Business Association, as well as chairperson of its high advisory council (1997– 2001). He was chairperson of the board (2000–2008) for the Turkish Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers’ Association (İEİS) and continues to serve both TÜSİAD and İEİS as honorary chair. He has additional roles with the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED), and the Aegean Industry and Business Association (ESİAD).
In the family tradition, Bülent Eczacıbaşı is active in founding and fostering civic organizations. He chairs the board of trustees of the Istanbul Modern Art Foundation and the board of directors of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) and serves on the advisory board of the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), for which he was founding president.
A graduate in chemistry from the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, Bülent Eczacıbaşı obtained his master’s degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Along with numerous commendations in Turkey, he has been recognized by France as Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur and by Italy as Commendatore dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia.
Bülent Eczacıbaşı lives in Istanbul with his wife, Oya, chair of the board of the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. Their son, Emre, and daughter, Esra, both work at Eczacıbaşı Holding.