Paint Industrialists Elect New Board
As a result of the elections held at the 7th Ordinary General Assembly meeting of the Paint Manufacturers Association (BOSAD), which represents the Turkish paints sector, Ahmet Yiğitbaşı was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The Paint Manufacturers Association held its 7th Ordinary General Meeting to elect its new board, with Ahmet Yiğitbaşı elected as Board Chairman.
BOSAD passed the leadership to Ahmet Yiğitbaşı. Following elections held at the 7th Ordinary General Meeting of the Paint Manufacturers Association (BOSAD), which represents the Turkish paint sector, Ahmet Yiğitbaşı was elected to the position of Board Chairman.
Paint Manufacturers Association Elects Board Chairman
The Paint Manufacturers Association held elections at its 7th Ordinary General Meeting to select its new board. As a result of the election, Ahmet Yiğitbaşı became Board Chairman. In the new term, the positions of Vice Chairman are held by Hakan Fidan, M. Akın Akçalı and Kenan Baytaş. Ahmet Yiğitbaşı, who will lead the paint sector over the coming two-year period, has prioritized work focused on resolving sectoral issues on his agenda.The Turkish paint and raw materials sector, with a market size of USD 3 billion in domestic and foreign markets and holding a 2 percent share of the global paint market, ranks as Europe's fifth-largest producer. BOSAD possesses strong professional representation through its member profile, bringing together approximately 80 organizations under its umbrella. Ahmet Yiğitbaşı, elected Board Chairman by unanimous vote of BOSAD members, currently serves as Head of Yaşar Holding Paint Group. Yiğitbaşı is also Chairman of Yaşar University Board of Trustees.
Paint Manufacturers Association New Board
BOSAD's new Board consists of the following members: Ahmet Yiğitbaşı (DYO), Altuğ Akbaş (Kalekim), M. Akın Akçalı (Akçalı), Kenan Baytaş (Merbolin), Ahmet Faik Bitlis (Polisan), Mustafa Deryal (Kardelen), R. Şükrü Ergün (Jotun), Hakan Fidan (Palet Kimya), Ersin Kayalar (Kayalar), Semih Kılıç (AkzoNobel), Levend Kokuludağ (Arkem), Tayfun Küçükoğlu (Betek), Erol Mizrahi (Polisan), Serdar Oran (DYO), Feridun Uzunyol (Eminiş).
BOSAD Board Chairman Ahmet Yiğitbaşı, in his first statement following the election, thanked Ahmet Faik Bitlis, from whom he took over the leadership, for his work to date and contributions to the sector, stating: "We will continue working to ensure the Turkish paint sector maintains its growth both domestically and internationally during the 2015-2017 period. We aim to accelerate our steps in addressing unresolved problems facing our sector. Topics such as the production of raw materials, technical and legal regulations and the EU integration process are among our priority agenda items."
Yiğitbaşı, noting that work will continue to increase Turkey's international visibility as the region's largest paint producer within the sphere of Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkic Republics, Middle East and North Africa, stated that the "Paintistanbul Türkcoat Fair," which was consolidated under the umbrellas of BOSAD and Artkim Fairs in recent months, holds great significance in this regard.
Who is Ahmet Yiğitbaşı?
After studying Mechanical Engineering at Aachen University of Technology (Germany), Ahmet Yiğitbaşı completed his Master's degree in Fuel Engineering and began his career in 1987 at Union Kraftstoff (UK) in Bonn, Germany.
Joining Yaşar Paint and Chemical Group in 1989 and working at Desa Machinery and Boiler Manufacturing Co. Ltd. between 1989-1990, Yiğitbaşı subsequently served as Deputy General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Botaş Packaging Manufacturing Co. Ltd. between 1990-1992, General Manager between 1992-1996, Vice President responsible for various business units including Packaging, Automotive Paints, Industrial Paints, Construction Paints and Printing Inks between 1996-2001, and Head of Yaşar Holding Paint and Chemical Group between 2001-2006, and Head of Yaşar Holding Foreign Investments and New Projects between January 2006 and May 2009.
He served as Board Chairman of BOSAD, the professional organization of the paint sector, between 2007-2009.
Since May 2009, he has held the position of Head of Yaşar Holding Paint Group, and since March 2010, Chairman of Yaşar University Board of Trustees.
Yiğitbaşı speaks English, German and French; he is married with two children.
About BOSAD:
BOSAD started its professional organization process in July 2003 with 9 founding members (Betek Boya San. Tic. A.Ş., ÇBS Boya San. Tic. A.Ş., DYO Boya Fabrikaları A.Ş., DYO Matbaa Mürekkepleri San. Tic. A.Ş., Jotun Boya San. Tic. A.Ş., Marshall Boya ve Vernik San. Tic. A.Ş., Meges Boya San. Tic. A.Ş., Polisan Kimya San. Tic. A.Ş., SG-Weber Yapı Kimyasalları San. Tic. A.Ş.) and has completed its professional organization process, reaching 80 members as of the end of 2014. BOSAD achieved an important milestone when its participating share in the "National Paint Industry" represented within the formal economy reached 85 percent. Following its establishment, through its effective work, BOSAD embodies significant sectoral strength defined as a "Professional Organization."
