Interview
Mr Mustafa Yilmaz  - General Manager, Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii AS [Akkök Group]

The Akkök Group, since the foundation of its first industrial company Aksu in 1952, has played an important role in Turkey’s postwar industrialization efforts. The Group, whose initial growth strategy was based on servicing the needs of the Turkish domestic market that had mostly rudimentary production facilities at the time, proved to be a pivotal force in laying the foundation for the country’s textile sector, which evolved to be a major industry in the ensuing years.

Operating through major five divisons namely, Aksa, Akenerji, Aksu, Ak-Al, and Akmerkez, the Group has invested in diversified sectors namely acrylic fibers, energy, chemicals, port management and real estate development, and consolidates its leading position in the textile sector. These companies are quoted in the Istanbul Stock Exchange and the first four, with the addition of Ak-Kim, rank among the largest 500 industrial concerns in Turkey, and their performances have surpassed the country’s borders ranking them amongst most successful players in the world in their respective sectors.

The Group, which currently includes 20 industrial and commercial companies, operates out of 22 production sites.

AKSA, the leading acrylic fiber producer, operates the world’s largest production facility in acrylic fibres. With mission to be the world’s most innovative, efficient and well-known acrylic fiber producer, AKSA marks it presence spread over five continents, serving more than fifty countries.

Mr Mustafa Yilmaz is at the helm of managerial operations being the General Manager of AKSA since 2002. From 2003 onwards, he has also been the member on the board of the Group. From 1985 to 2001 he had served AKSA as Deputy General Manager.

Mr Yilmaz started his career with AKSA in 1974 as production engineer and worked his way up through several managerial positions including production, engineering and technology. He has served AKSA in all levels since then and played a key role in transforming AKSA from a local player into a global player in man made fibers.

Mr Yilmaz obtained his MSc in chemical engineering from University of Ankara in 1971, and same year he began his career with Etibank Ergani copper mining and smelting plant.

In Face2Face, Mr Mustafa Yilmaz speaks on current global synthetic fibres market .