Early Life
Hamdi Akın was born on August 17, 1954, in Istanbul, Turkey. He is the third child of Hasan and Hikmet Akın. He studied high school in Mustafa Kemal Lisesi in Ankara, Yenimahalle, and then mechanical engineering at Gazi University.
Rise to Success
Akın began his business career while in his third year of university, manufacturing water storage, fuel storage, and heating boilers in his father's workshop. His first major commission was the manufacture of the heating boiler for the Ankara Emek Mosque. He then opened a construction goods store in Ankara. In 1976, he became a contractor in the construction business, establishing Akfen Holding. During the 1980s, he focused on infrastructure projects, and hospital and school construction. In 1986, he developed his first public infrastructure investment project, the Antalya Airport Terminal Building, under a 'Build – Operate – Transfer' model. In 1997, he founded TAV Airports with TEPE Group and VIE Group and won the İstanbul Atatürk Airport tender.
Key Business Strategies
Akfen Holding is a diversified conglomerate with operations in construction, energy, tourism, and mining. Key strategies have included partnerships with major international companies and winning privatization tenders. He has been a key player in infrastructure projects, particularly airports, and has made significant investments in renewable energy.
Philanthropy
Hamdi Akın founded the Turkey Human Resources Foundation (TİKAV) in 1999 to support students. He has also been involved in the Contemporary Turkey Studies Chair at the London School of Economics. He has also donated to Syrian refugees.
