Our Founder

Industrialist Raif Dinçkök was one of the first members of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO), which was first convened on May 30, 1952. He served on the board of directors since the very beginning of the Chamber and served as Chairman from 1956 to 1960. Raif Dinçkök, who played an instrumental role in moving ISO to the premises it still occupies today, was respected as the doyen of Istanbul Chamber of Industry until his death in 1994.

His colleagues and close friends remember him as someone who worked for the development of private sector in Turkey, beyond his services for Istanbul Chamber of Industry, and he took up his duties and responsibilities assigned to him as an industrialist with dedication and perseverance. He was held up as an example in the business world thanks to his modesty and diligence.

From the Balkans to Turkey

During the Balkan Wars, Raif Dinçkök's family migrated to Turkey from the region around the Lake Dojran, which is today located on the border between Macedonia and Greece. He was born in Thessaloniki in 1912 and embarked on a career in trade, his father's profession, in 1934.

The Dinçkök family was actually one of the well-known and wealthy families in Dojran, and many of its members first migrated as a group to İzmir. While some members of the family moved to İzmir and took the surname "Doyran," his grandfather Ali Bey moved to Istanbul with his wife and children. Their grandfather Ali Bey started a contracting and trading business and in 1934 took the surname "Dinçkök." During those years, he built the "Dinçkök" Apartment in Laleli where he lived there until his death

Raif Dinçkök engaged in trading and contracting business in Ankara from 1934 until 1943 and then moved to Istanbul to trade in yarn and fabrics in Sultanhamam. Dinçkök was an influential figure among the tradesmen with his honest, serious and dignified personality, and he acted as a mediator in the disputes between businessmen.

From Tradesman to Industrialist

In the years he was involved in yarn and fabric trade, Dinçkök's industrialist side was slowly emerging in his life. After the Second World War, his efforts for the development of Turkey's private sector bore fruit as the number of industrial private sector facilities gradually increased. As one of those leading entrepreneurs, Dinçkök helped found the Istanbul Chamber of Industry and launched the Aksu Weaving Factory in Bakırköy on October 1, 1952. Dinçkök always acted in recognition of the significance of investment and production for the country's economy. In the following years, together with his sons and professional staff, he founded Ariş, Dinarsu, Aksa, Ak-Al, Ak-Kim, Ak-Tops and Akenerji production facilities.

A Humble Leader

His close friends described Dinçkök figure who commanded respect for his calm and modest personality. Dinçkök attached great importance to social activities with his extraordinary communication and leadership skills. Thus, he was a member of many social-purpose organizations as well as professional organizations. He served as the President of Büyük Kulüp Derneği for 15 years, and was a member of many associations and foundations. His role in both the Executive Board and High Council of Fenerbahçe Sports Club demonstrated his great interest in sports.

Making People Love What They Do

His colleagues recall Raif Dinçkök as someone who built his relationships on honesty and modesty. Dinçkök would take care to guide his employees towards loving what they do. He was a perceptive manager who knew how to influence people and benefit from others' opinions while attaching great importance to teamwork. Raif Dinçkök was a very serious, disciplined and hardworking person. He listened in meetings very well, chose the correct words in his speeches, and made effective decisions by considering the opinions of the people around him. The distinguished industrialist Raif Dinçkök passed away on February 25, 1994, and was posthumously awarded a State Medal of Distinguished Service on December 17, 1999, by a resolution of the Council of Ministers for his great contribution to the state and national interests.