Demir Karamancı, one of Turkey’s most distinguished industrialists and the founder and honorary chairman of Karamancı Holding, passed away at the age of 97.

After graduating from Istanbul Robert College, Karamancı moved to the United States in 1948, where he pursued his studies at the University of Texas and later earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from Temple University. Upon returning to Turkey, he established Karamancı Holding and transformed it into one of the country’s leading industrial and export groups, with operations spanning textiles, pipes, roofing materials, energy, ready-to-wear apparel, and agricultural production. The group includes Orta Anadolu Tekstil, a long-established Kayseri-based company and one of Turkey’s prominent denim producers.

Widely known for his philanthropic commitment, Demir Karamancı was actively involved in numerous social initiatives and charitable causes. He was among the founders of several prominent institutions, including TÜSİAD, TEMA Foundation, Turkish Kidney Foundation, and the Yıldız Palace Foundation.

The Robert College community remembers him with respect and gratitude.