Our Founder

I came here with my dreams.

Ertuğrul Kurdoğlu
1932-November 20th, 2013

Ertuğrul Kurdoğlu, founder of Ata Holding Group and TAB Gıda, that has carried out many successful projects, notably the Atatürk Dam, giving life to the Southeastern Anatolia region. His professional journey began with internships on highway constructions and eventually led Kurdoğlu to remarkable accomplishments, establishing a global reputation. In his autobiography “I Came Here with My Dreams” he sincerely shared his life story as a legacy for younger generations and summarized his philosohopy of life with the words: “Dreams cannot come through by learning or imitating others, they can actually be lost due to our fears. We, therefore, have to follow our dreams with courage and determination.”

“Completing a project like the Ataturk Dam is like bringing down a star from the sky.”

Kurdoğlu made so many impossible dreams come true in his business life spanning half a century. During the construction of the Ataturk Dam, one of the most significant of all of his dreams that became the fifth largest dam in the world, he expressed his feelings after the completion of the project saying: “Completing a project like the Ataturk Dam is like bringing all the sky down to the Earth." Kurdoğlu viewed the Atatürk Dam not as a construction initiative, but as a national matter for the benefit of Turkey.

“It is our responsibility to make the world we live in a better place for future generations”

Kurdoğlu, who constantly demonstrated his patriotism by actionizing beneficial initiatives for his country, summarized the secret of his success as "To overcome all of the difficulties, one must trust his family, his friends, his country and in himself", he further emphasized: "It is our responsibility to make the world we live in a better place for future generations."

We commemorate him with gratitude and mercy.