Early Life
Ferit Faik Sahenk was born in Ankara, Turkey, on March 18, 1964. He attended The American School in Switzerland (TASIS) before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Human Resources from Boston College in 1989.
Rise to Success
After graduating, Sahenk apprenticed at Doğuş' Garanti Bank. In 1998, he moved to the holding company and acquired two food retail chains. He also operated NTV by selling part of Garanti Bank to the public. Sahenk created a recruitment division, Humanitas, emphasizing the importance of top talent. Under his leadership, Doğuş Group's revenues reached $5.7 billion in 1999. He also instituted centralized back-office operations for Doğuş' banks and auto dealerships and added leasing, insurance, and cashback reward schemes to the banking business. After his father's death, Ayhan Şahenk, Ferit took over Doğuş Holding in 2001.
Key Business Strategies
Sahenk spearheaded expansions into diverse sectors. He expanded into media, tourism, and construction. He also focused on strategic acquisitions and partnerships to enhance the Doğuş Group's market position. Sahenk also made key moves such as the sale of a quarter of Garanti Bank to General Electric in 2004, which helped liberalize the Turkish banking sector.
Philanthropy
Ferit Sahenk is known for his philanthropic efforts. He donated 3 million CHF to TASIS for the Ferit Sahenk Fine Arts Center. He is also involved in various social and cultural initiatives.