Celal Sönmez

Celal Sönmez
12th President of the BTSO
In office
1 December 1995 – 13 May 2013
Preceded byAli Osman Sönmez
Succeeded byİbrahim Burkay
Personal details
Born (1953-05-17) May 17, 1953
SpouseÜmran Sönmez
ChildrenAli Cem Sönmez
Cemil Sönmez
Osman Sönmez
Alma materIstanbul University Faculty of Business Administration
OccupationIndustrialist and businessman

Celal Sönmez (born 17 May 1953, Bursa) is a Turkish businessman, industrialist, entrepreneur and media owner.[1][2]

Life

Sönmez was born in İnegöl in 1953. He completed primary school in İnegöl and graduated from Bursa Erkek Lisesi. In 1977, he graduated from the Istanbul University Faculty of Business Administration. After military service, he began working in the industrial enterprises of Sönmez Holding, owned by his father Ali Osman Sönmez. He held various posts including vice chairman and chairman of the board. After his father's death, he became chairman of Sönmez Holding.

He also served as chairman of the board of Sönmez Media Group, which included AS TV, Radyo S, Bursa Hakimiyet, Yaşayan Bursa and the Bursa News Agency.[3]

In December 2024, he transferred ownership of Sönmez Media Group to Istanbul-based ACG Media, thereby exiting the media sector.[4]

Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Sönmez was first elected as a member of the assembly of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) in 1984. He also served on the High Advisory Board of BUSİAD and the board of directors of the Uludağ Exporters’ Association. From 1995 to 2013, he was president of BTSO. He continues to chair Sönmez Holding, which operates 28 companies across nine sectors.[5]

Personal life

He is married to Ümran Sönmez and has three children.

References

  1. ^ Aykut, Şaban (1999). Büyük Bursa tarihi antolojisi (in Turkish). Hat matbaası. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  2. ^ "İşadamı Celal Sönmez Kimdir ?". www.anahaberim.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  3. ^ Mizandaki Bursa (in Turkish). F. Özsan Matbaacılık. 1997. ISBN 978-975-8184-04-0. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Celal Sönmez'den duygusal veda". Archived from the original on 7 December 2024.
  5. ^ Özdemir, Nezaket (2009). Cumhuriyet çocuklarının diliyle Bursa'nın anısal tarihi (in Turkish). Sentez Yayıncılık. ISBN 978-605-5790-03-5. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.