Murat Kolbaşı’s professional career began in 1988 at Arzum where he was positioned as the Sales and Business Development Manager after graduating from Marmara University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1987. Following this managerial position, he became Vice President of Arzum in 1996, within which he developed sales and marketing strategies to increase Arzum brand equity.
Murat Kolbaşı was elected as Chairman of Arzum in 2008. That same year, he signed an asset purchase agreement with Ashmore Asset Management Inc., partnering 49% of the company shares with the UK-based private equity fund.
Upon termination of 5 years agreement with Ashmore, he took an active role on signing partnership agreement with Meditarra Capital Partners owning 51% of company shares in 2013.
He takes role as a board member at Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) and he is also Coordinator Chairman of Asia Pacific Business Councils and Chairman of Turkish Chapter at Turkey-China Business Council, an active member of the Turkish and Hong Kong, Turkish and Australia Business Councils at Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) along with his memberships at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO), The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD), Turkish Industry & Business Association (TUSİAD), Young Entrepreneur’s Committee (GGK) and Turkish Coffee Culture and Research Association.
Murat Kolbaşı speaks English, is married and has two sons.