TURKEY - Key Persons
Özen Altıparmak is one of the two founding brothers of the Altıparmak Food Industry and Trade Joint Stock Company. He graduated from TED Ankara College in 1971, and completed his education in 1978 at the Business Department of Middle East Technical University's School of Administrative Sciences. In the years that would shape his future, his entrepreneurial spirit compelled him to start his own business, yet circumstances at the time necessitated that he find a job and begin working immediately. Özen Altıparmak took the employee entrance exam at the Teachers Bank, which was one of the largest banks at the time, and placed first. He was offered the job of inspector with the condition he work at the bank for five years. Realizing that this obligation did not mesh with his passion for entrepreneurism, Özen Altıparmak declined the job.
Özen Altıparmak moved to Istanbul, where he embarked on his professional work life working at a variety of jobs while also developing projects with the goal of starting his own business.