Early Life
Hamdi Akın was born on August 17, 1954, in Istanbul, Turkey. He is the third child of Hasan and Hikmet Akın. Akın spent his early years in Trabzon and later attended Mustafa Kemal Lisesi in Ankara. He pursued higher education at Gazi University, where he studied mechanical engineering.
Rise to Success
Akın's career began in the construction industry. In 1976, he founded Akfen Holding, a diversified conglomerate with operations in infrastructure, energy, tourism, and mining. Akfen Holding has partnered with leading multinational companies. Akın's company won tenders for operating Istanbul Atatürk Airport and Ankara Esenboğa Airport, which led to the establishment of TAV Airports Holding. In 2012, he sold 38% of TAV to Aeroports de Paris Group for $874 million.
Key Business Strategies
Akın's key business strategies have involved diversification and strategic partnerships. Akfen Holding has expanded its footprint across various sectors through partnerships with leading multinationals. He focused on infrastructure, energy, and investment in scope of privatization efforts. He also founded TAV Airports, establishing it as a global brand in airport construction and management.
Philanthropy
Hamdi Akın is known for his philanthropic work. He founded the Turkey Human Resources Foundation (TİKAV) in 1999, which focuses on providing social education for students. He is also a founder of the Contemporary Turkey Studies Chair at the London School of Economics.