Levent Çakiroglu

Levent Çakiroglu is a Turkish businessman. Heading 8 different companies, he is presently the Chairman of Türk Traktör ve Ziraat Makineleri AS, Chairman at Arçelik-LG Klima Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, Chief Executive Officer & Director at Koç Holding A.S., General Manager & Non-Executive Director at Arçelik AS, Chairman of Arctic SA (a subsidiary of Arçelik AS) and Chairman for Beko Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd.

Levent is also on the board of 10 other companies, including the Vehbi Koç Foundation. He has previously held various top level positions including the Chief Executive Officer at Koçtas Yapi Marketleri Ticaret AS, Chief Executive Officer for Migros Ticaret AS, Assistant Manager at Mali Suclar Arastirma Kurulu and VP-Financial Crimes Investigation Board at Turkey Ministry of Treasury & Finance.

Levent graduated from the Ankara University Faculty of Political Science Department of Business Administration, before completing a master’s degree in public finance at Illinois University. He was also a part-time lecturer at Bilkent University.

Previously, he has also worked as a junior and senior auditor at the Ministry of Finance and was the Vice Chair of the Ministry of Finance Financial Crimes Investigation Board.

Levent Çakiroglu is also an Advisory Board member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey.  As an esteemed member of the advisory board, Çakiroglu contributes his insights and expertise to promote bilateral cooperation and economic development between the United Kingdom and Turkey. 

Levent is connected to the World Economic Forum. He spoke at the 2021 online summit between January 25 and 29, where his subject was “Designing Connected and Sustainable Value Chains”. He emphasised that a green transformation “will be very important in terms of sustainable value chains in the upcoming period.”

Born in Ankara in 1967, Levent completed his undergraduate studies at Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences, where he majored in Business Administration. Levent pursued further education and obtained a master's degree from the University of Illinois. 

Levent, then, embarked on his professional journey in 1988 when he joined the Ministry of Finance in Turkey. During his tenure there, he gained valuable experience and knowledge in finance and government operations. His commitment and expertise in financial matters earned him the position of Vice President of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board at the Ministry of Finance.

In 1997, Levent ventured into academia, teaching as a part-time instructor at Bilkent University while continuing his work in the Ministry of Finance. 

In 1998, Levent joined Koç Group, one of Turkey's largest and most diversified conglomerates. His appointment as the Koç Holding Financial Group Coordinator marked the beginning of his extensive involvement within the group.

Throughout his tenure at Koç Group, Levent assumed various high-level positions. From 2002 to 2007, he served as the General Manager of Koçtas, a prominent home improvement retailer within the group. Under his leadership, Koçtas experienced substantial growth and solidified its position as a market leader.

In 2007, Levent took on the role of CEO at Migros, a major retail company in Turkey. During his tenure, he spearheaded strategic initiatives that enhanced the company's operations and profitability. 

In 2008, Levent assumed the role of CEO at Arçelik, a global home appliances manufacturer and part of the Koç Holding group. Under his visionary leadership, Arçelik expanded its international presence, increased its market share, and introduced innovative products that met evolving consumer needs. 

In addition to his role as CEO of Arçelik, Levent has held the position of President of the Durable Goods Group of Koç Holding A.S. since April 2010. 

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Levent serves as an Advisory Board member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey, where he actively contributes his expertise to promote business collaborations between Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Levent Çakiroglu's vision revolves around driving sustainable growth, fostering innovation, and creating long-term value for stakeholders. He envisions Koç Holding as a leading organisation that embraces digital transformation, adapts to evolving market trends, and leverages technology to deliver innovative products and services. His vision encompasses establishing Koç Holding as a trusted partner, employer of choice, and a responsible corporate citizen.

Levent aims to position Koç Holding at the forefront of industry developments, driving economic growth and contributing to the well-being of society. He envisions a future where Koç Holding continues to excel in corporate governance, ethical conduct, and sustainability practices. His vision emphasises the importance of collaboration, both internally within the organisation and externally with business partners, to foster a culture of excellence and achieve collective success. By promoting innovation, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement, Levent envisions Koç Holding as a transformative force, making a positive impact on the business landscape in Turkey and beyond.