On time... - Lloyd's List

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turkey
yavuz kalkavan
Looking after your business is as
important as looking after your child
Yavuz Kalkavan of Besiktas hails family culture
STILL in his early thirties, Yavuz Kalkavan is managing
director of Turkey’s family-controlled Besiktas Group, which
is engaged in shipping and shipbuilding as well as banking,
insurance, health services and tourism.
He is married, with a son and a daughter, although at such
a relatively young age, succession planning will obviously not
be first thing on his mind.
But while he is a strong supporter of the family business
concept, he accepts that it might not be right for all enterprises
in all situations.
“We have a very strong
principle. My father
does not take any decision
that i don’t like and the
same definitely goes for me”
“It depends on the capability of the family,” he says. “Modern
shipping has strong requirements from the companies. For this
reason, shipping is a big challenge for all companies including
family companies.
“In our family culture, looking after the business is as
important as looking after your kid. I am very proud to be in
turkey
Sabanci family
Family focus at Yasa Holdings
Sabanci sons have board seats
YASA Holding has only been in existence for 13 years,
during which time it has established itself as a leading
Turkish player in a number of sectors.
Its shipping division, Yasa Shipping Industry and
Trading, controls a modern fleet comprising 17 bulk
carriers and nine large tankers, which is reported to
be entirely on time charter. The group is also active in
40 next generation 2012
my family business and having the chance to look after the
business.”
Mr Kalkavan says that succession arrangements proceeded
smoothly in his case, as he has enjoyed support from his father,
who extended him full confidence.
“We have a very strong principle. My father does not take
any decision that I don’t like and the same definitely goes for
me.”
Indeed, long-term support from the family is the key to
success, he believes. That said, there will be no pressure on his
own offspring to take over the reins.
“I only wish to see my son and daughter as happy individuals
like me, they are 100% free to try this in shipping or in any
other thing to spend their own lives,” Mr Kalkavan says.
However, he suggests that it might be good for them to have
some experience outside the family business, which he did not
have himself, with a handover once they reach their thirties.
But what about the inevitable differences of opinion that
arise in all businesses? Which generation should get the last
word?
“Younger people are more aggressive and most of the time
not experienced enough,” he says. “They need good support
next to them, but not heavily on top of them. Both generations
must be equal for the last word; both of them must try for the
agreement.”
construction, aviation, tourism and textiles. Founder
Yalçın Sabanci,aged 69, is the scion of the Sabanci family,
the richest in Turkey, and spent 39 years running its textile
operations before going into business on his own account
in 1999.
Succession is thought to lie with his sons Emirhan and
Ilhan, both of whom sit on the Yasa Holding board.