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[Press Release] The American Turkish Society Holds Gala Dinner Celebrating GE and Doğuş Group Partnerships
04/18/2008
THE AMERICAN TURKISH SOCIETY CELEBRATES GE PARTNERSHIP WITH DOĞUŞ GROUP
Gala Dinner in New York City on April 16th Honored Jeffrey R. Immelt and Ferit F. Şahenk
New York, NY– April 18, 2008 – The American Turkish Society awarded its Annual Corporate Partnership Award to Jeffrey R. Immelt, Chairman and CEO of GE, and Ferit F. Şahenk, Chairman of Doğuş Group, at its 2008 Gala Dinner on April 16 at The Waldorf-Astoria in New York. The Gala celebrated the successful partnerships of GE and Doğuş Group in financial services and real estate, and their cooperation in media, in Turkey.
The 2008 Gala was attended by nearly 400 leading executives from both the American and Turkish business communities, as well as dignitaries from the U.S. and Turkish governments and select guests from the media, the arts, and academia. The event raised over $700,000 to benefit The American Turkish Society’s educational, cultural and philanthropic programs. Charles O. Holliday, Jr., Chairman and CEO of DuPont, and David J. Stern, Commissioner of The National Basketball Association, served as Dinner Committee Co-Chairmen, along with Mrs. Ahmet Ertegün as Honorary Chairwoman. Distinguished guests included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Vecdi Gönül, Defense Minister of Turkey, Ross Wilson, Ambassador of U.S. to Turkey, Baki Ilkin, Ambassador of Turkey to the U.N., Rahmi M. Koç, Honorary Chairman of Koç Holding, Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal, and Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Doğuş Group and GE began working together in 2000, when the Doğuş Media Group established CNBC-e, a localized version of the world’s number one business news channel, CNBC, providing unique television coverage of Turkey’s economy and its blossoming business environment. In 2005, Doğuş and GE extended their strategic alliance to financial services through Garanti Bank, a Doğuş Group company that has grown into the second largest privately owned bank in Turkey, and a year later created Doğuş-GE REIT, focusing on real estate development in the region.
“The winning partnership between Doğuş Group and GE exemplifies the strong, long-standing business and economic ties between Turkey and the U.S., “said Murat Köprülü, Chairman of The American Turkish Society. Gala Co-Chairman and NBA Commissioner David Stern added that the two companies’ partnership was a model for today’s global economy, and honorees Jeffrey Immelt and Ferit Şahenk underlined the attractive investment environment in Turkey in their remarks. In addition, Mayor Bloomberg remarked on the importance of Americans understanding the close relations between the U.S. and Turkey, saying “Turkey bridges two cultures in a unique way.”
Platinum Benefactors of the gala, who contributed $25,000 or more, included, in addition to GE and Doğuş Group, American International Group (AIG), DuPont, Mrs. Ahmet Ertegün, JPMorgan Chase, Mr. and Mrs. Murat Köprülü, The National Basketball Association, NBC Universal, THL Partners, and the Turkish-U.S. Business Council (TAIK) of DEIK.
GE is a diversified technology, media and financial services company. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and industrial products, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.
Doğuş Group, founded in 1951 with initial activity rooted in construction, is one of Turkey’s largest conglomerates. Its core businesses include financial services, automotive, construction, media, tourism, real estate and energy. The Doğuş Group features 73 companies, a workforce of over 19,000 employees, and 8 million customers.
Established in 1949 in New York City, The American Turkish Society is the oldest not-for-profit organization fostering economic and cultural ties and mutual understanding between the United States and Turkey. From its humble but crucial beginnings of meet-and-greet dinners between Turkish and American government leaders in the highly-charged post-World War II period, the Society has steadily grown its corporate and individual membership with a diverse and challenging menu of business, policy, and cultural events throughout the years. The Society’s activities provide American audiences with valuable information about current issues pertaining to Turkey. Over the past decade, the Society has also increased its philanthropic endeavors. In particular, the Society’s Earthquake Relief Fund, established in the wake of the tragic earthquake near Istanbul in August 1999, was an extraordinarily successful international aid effort, channeling over $4 million to non-profit organizations in Turkey. In addition, the Society supports a variety of international education and arts and culture programs.
Members of the press wishing to learn more about the gala and The American Turkish Society may contact Selen Ucak, Executive Director, at 212-583-7614, or Lawrence M. Kaye, Vice Chairman and Events Committee Chair, at 212-592-1410.
Members of the press wishing to learn more about the gala and The American Turkish Society may contact Selen Ucak, Executive Director, at 212-583-7614, or Lawrence M. Kaye, Vice Chairman and Events Committee Chair, at 212-592-1410.
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