Turgay Ciner

Early Life

Turgay Ciner was born in Hopa, Artvin Province, Turkey, in 1956. His entrepreneurial journey began early, with his first business venture in the 1980s involving importing German cars with his brother.

Rise to Success

Ciner's career progressed through the textile industry and turnkey installations before transitioning into acquiring and investing in the Ciner Group. He expanded into the textile industry in the 1990s. Key milestones include acquiring Park Tekstil and Mensucat Santral in 1997 and subsequently floating shares on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Ciner bought 60% of Havaş, Turkey's main airport ground handling company in 1995.

Key Business Strategies

Ciner's business acumen led to the strategic expansion of Ciner Group into diverse sectors including energy and mining, soda ash production, container glass, and shipping. His acquisition of Genesis Alkali in the U.S. in 2025 further solidified Ciner's position as a key player in the global soda ash market. In December 2024, Ciner sold his media empire.

Philanthropy

Ciner Group actively supports education and training, with a goal of donating 50 schools to national education. The Ciner family is passionate about spreading prosperity in areas needing investment, as demonstrated by their support of local projects in South Wales.