Hamdi Ulukaya is the new President of the American-Turkish Business Council

Hamdi Ulukaya has appointed as the new president of the American-Turkish Business Council, which was established within the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2013 to improve bilateral trade relations between Turkey and the U.S. Representing more than 100 American and Turkish companies, the new president of the American-Turkish Business Council is Chobani’s boss, Hamdi Ulukaya. In a statement on the occasion of Hamdi Ulukaya’s appointment as the president of the American-Turkish Business Council, Suzanne P. Clark, the President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to which the Council is affiliated, said, “As the new president of the American-Turkish Business Council, Hamdi Ulukaya will bring his dynamic leadership and commitment to innovation to our bilateral relations with Turkey.” The statement by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also thanked Cargill, who has served as the president of the American-Turkish Business Council since April 2018, and Chairman and CEO David MacLennan for their consistent leadership. Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani, said, “I am honored to join the American-Turkish Business Council to collaborate and use our collective knowledge and resources to drive positive change and create a more just and sustainable world for all.” Ulukaya thanked David MacLennan, whose role he took over, for his contributions and said, “The business council provides a powerful and effective way to bring the people of Turkey and the United States together, to forge new connections and develop a prosperous relationship for both countries. I am proud of what the council has accomplished to date and what we will do together in the future.” The American-Turkish Business Council was founded on May 16, 2013, within the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, with Muhtar Kent, then-Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, as its chairman, and with the participation of more than 40 companies. Led by Muhtar Kent, the Council has worked with both governments and businesses to better connect the two countries’ economies and supply chains, particularly in strategic areas such as agriculture, defense, the digital economy, energy, healthcare, travel and women’s empowerment. Cargill Chairman and CEO David MacLennan took over the leadership role from Kent in 2018 and became the Council’s second chair. As the Council celebrates its 10th anniversary, trade between the United States and Turkey has more than doubled since its inception, reaching nearly $35 billion.