Kıraç, İnan

İnan Kıraç, first days at the Koç Group…

After my brother İnan Kıraç graduated from Galatasaray High School, he completed his military service and began searching for a career start... İnan was nine years younger than me. When we lost our mother in 1946, he was still an elementary school student of ten years old. Our father’s death at the age of 57 was also a cause of great “domestic pain” for us at an early age...
 
From then on, İnan and I had to rely on each other to overcome the difficulties of life... When I was married in 1954, İnan felt like he had been “left alone”...

He seemed to withdraw into himself, and began working as a translator at the Kemer Dam building site... I wished that he would do some more serious work and be able to test his self-confidence at a more advanced level...
 
While I was living in Izmir, I shared my thoughts with Bernar Nahum in 1961. “You raised me, and now it is İnan’s turn. As you know, we are not a big family, and İnan is a youth of character and merit. If you take him under your wing and make him your apprentice, this country will benefit from a successful person,” I said, and opened the first door to Koç for İnan...
 
Monsieur Bernar took note of my proposal and promised to talk to Vehbi Koç and let me know his decision. However, I was really surprised by the idea that Bernar Nahum, who had partner and manager status, would need to get the permission of Mr. Koç to employ a young person... But my surprise turned into great astonishment fifteen days after I talked to Bernar! Monsieur Bernar told me on the telephone, “I talked to Mr. Koç about İnan. He had an objection I had not anticipated; he said that it was not right for two brothers to work at the same group!” While I was searching for an answer, he explained Mr. Koç’s objection. “Can is successful in İzmir and could in future take on important roles. An unexpected problem with his brother could prevent that. That is why I don’t think it’s right for him to work with his brother.” I had nothing left to say... Bernar said, “If you like, talk to Mr. Koç yourself, maybe you can convince him,” leaving the door open just a hopeful crack...
 
The first time I visited Istanbul following this disappointing conversation, I decided to visit Mr. Koç at Merkez Han, which was the Koç headquarters in the 1960s. My aim was to introduce him to İnan... I began the discussion by putting the emphasis on me: “As you can see, I work with spirit and I feel that you like me! My brother İnan is made of the same stuff. I believe he would work with total loyalty. Allow İnan a three-month trial period with Monsieur Bernard, just like you allowed me, and if he’s no good, you can throw him out!” After I said all these things one after the other, I made a comparison that I still smile to remember: “We are fish without bones, you will not be disappointed! Please accept İnan and meet him.” Mr. Koç said, “What do you mean by fish without bones?” and I answered, “We are two brothers in life! We have no-one else to support us but each other!” which gave the conversation a dramatic air... Mr. Koç’s answer to my emotional approach was to say, “Do you not consider yourself as bones?”
 
Despite all this, the conversation ended on a positive note. Vehbi Koç said, “Your brother should come to me at eleven o’clock on Tuesday next week. As you know, Tuesdays are my lucky days!” I felt on top of the world. I don’t want to go into detail here about how I prepared İnan before sending him to Istanbul. I will leave that for when I write the story of his life! But the truth is that Vehbi Koç, in hiring İnan for Koç, once again, showed that he was a great judge of character. With this decision, he chose not only today’s successful Chair of the Koç Holding Executive Committee, but at the same time his future son-in-law.

On December 29, 1967, when Istanbul Mayor Haşim İşcan solemnized the marriage among all the family members in the magnificent salons of Çankaya Apartment, the long-time residence of the Koç family, Vehbi Koç, reveling in the joy of seeing his children grown up and married, said, “All my children are now in their nests! I hope that their husbands too will be successful!” In doing so, he sought to conceal the true depths of his hopes and joys, as if he was frightened of letting it show.