--
Our Founders
Our Group’s foundations were laid by our Honorary Chairmen Kamil Yazıcı and İzzet Özilhan. With the entrepreneurial strength they acquired from the values of the Anatolian soil, where they were born, our founders were always among the leading names within the industrialization process in the Republic of Türkiye, with the business undertakings they carried out.
They started their partnership by opening a wholesale store in Tahtakale, dealing in a variety of toys, hardware, and stationery supplies. As their business flourished, they diversified their operations into the realms of import and industrial manufacturing. Their first global business partner was from Czechoslovakia. Their automotive journey kicked off with the assembly of Škoda pick-up trucks and Jawa motorcycles. These brands marked the Group’s first foray into industrial operations.
Having successfully navigated their entry into the automotive realm, they diversified their portfolio by venturing into the beer and stationery industries. Through strategic alliances with globally acclaimed brands, they spearheaded transformative initiatives that left an indelible mark on our nation’s economic landscape. The year 1969 saw the release of Efes Pilsen beers in Türkiye, a brand that would go on to dominate the markets in which it operates across the globe. They later established Adel, a brand that quickly rose to the top of Türkiye’s pen and stationery industry. Recognizing the potential in the commercial vehicle segment, they initiated the manufacturing and marketing of Isuzu pick-up trucks. By joining forces with Coca-Cola, one of the most recognizable brands worldwide, they catapulted themselves to the forefront of the international bottling industry.
Due to their belief in the predisposition of Anatolian people for success and their commitment to Anatolia, Kamil Yazıcı and İzzet Özilhan brought their companies, which had reached the stage of becoming a holding, together under the name of “Anadolu Group” at the end of the 1960s. In 1979, they further demonstrated their dedication by establishing the Anadolu Foundation. They established over 50 educational institutions, dormitories, sports facilities, hospitals, and medical centers across the country. They laid the groundwork for the Anadolu Foundation’s ongoing projects in education and healthcare, which continue to make a profound impact on society.
In 1997, the two partners were honored with the State Medal of Distinguished Service by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye. A decade later, in 2007, they passed the helm of the Anadolu Group’s Board of Directors to the second generation. İzzet Özilhan passed away in 2014. Kamil Yazıcı continues to serve as our Honorary President.
In their business life, our founders, always had self-confidence, pursued continuous growth, saw every difficulty as an opportunity, believed that the route to success first passes through being “good” individuals and reaped the rewards for their persistent belief in the capacity of Turkish market and its ever-increasing manpower quality. Over the years, the enterprises of Anadolu Group exceeded the borders of the country and under the values of our founders set forth; Our Group is still establishing a strong presence in various industries across multiple regions.
