Dr. (h.c.) İbrahim Bodur

An industrialist who strived to establish an authentic model for local development... A pioneer who brought industry to Anatolia... A leader who merged local values with a global vision... An innovative entrepreneur devoted to science and technology… A patriot who never lost ties with his homeland… A philanthropist who put people first… A visionary who believed in the power of civil society… An art lover who cherished cultural heritage...

Born in 1928 in Nevruz village, part of Yenice district in Çanakkale, Dr. (h.c) Ibrahim Bodur attended Yenice Primary School and Balıkesir High School. He was admitted to İstanbul American Robert College and graduated with high honours from the economy department. He furthered his education in the United States studying business administration and returned to Turkey in 1951. By the end of 1951, he set up the Bodur-Eğinlioğlu Edirnekapı Cotton Yarn Factory in partnership with his father and father-in-law.

With the belief that Turkey's development relied on industrialisation and that development had to start in Anatolia, İbrahim Bodur laid the foundations of Turkey's first ceramic tiles factory in Çanakkale in 1957. Following the Çanakkale Seramik factories, established with the support of his family, employees and locals who believed in him, İbrahim Bodur went on to grow Kale Group which operates in a wide range of industries including building materials, building chemicals, defence, aerospace, moulds, mining and transportation.

Throughout his professional life spanning more than 65 years, İbrahim Bodur took part in the establishment of key NGOs including the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, the Turkish Heart Foundation and TEMA (Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion). He also founded Dr. (h.c.) İbrahim Bodur Kaleseramik Education, Health and Social Welfare Foundation through which he made significant investments and contributions in social areas, notably education and employment. 

In 1985, İbrahim Bodur was decorated with the State Medal of Merit from Czechoslovakia and the Cavaliere del Lavoro Order of Merit for Labour from Italy. He received the Order of Merit from the Republic of Turkey in 1997 and the Distinguished Service Award from the Turkish Grand National Assembly in 2006. In 2007, İbrahim Bodur was granted the International Aldo Villa Award by the Italian Ceramics Association for his contributions to the ceramics industry. He received an honorary doctorate from Karadeniz Technical University in 1994 and Çanakkale 18 March University in 1997.

A keen lover of music and literature, İbrahim Bodur's poems have been composed into songs by Turkey’s leading composers and released in two CDs titled Yıllarca (On and On) and Miras (Legacy).

Ibrahim Bodur, who contributed significantly to the development of Turkey’s industry, passed away on 23 May 2016.