Demir Sabanci started his business career in Japan at Toyota City in 1993 working in various executive positions with Mitsui & Co. as well as Toyota Motor Corporation. This was followed by similar roles at the Toyota Motor Sales in the United States. In 1996, he joined Sabanci Holding as a Board Member and three years later, founded Teknosa, the pioneer electronics retail chain in Turkey.
Between 1999-2004, Mr. Sabanci held various executive positions in Sabanci Holdings while serving as the President of the Retail Strategic Business Unit that is composed of Carrefoursa, Diasa, and Teknosa. Between 2000 and 2004, he served as founding shareholder and first General Manager and Chairman of Teknosa. In 2002, he also founded Sedes Holding where he is currently the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. He is also is a founding shareholder and President of Odesa, Sedesco Inc. , and Gratis.
Mr. Sabanci holds a double major in Economics and International Relations from Boston University. He holds two Masters of Business degrees, one from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management and the other from Carnegie Mellon University in Global Business Administration.
Mr. Sabanci is an active philanthropist with organizations such as the Turkish Health & Education Foundation (SEV).
Mr. Sabanci is also an Advisory Council Member for Cornell University’s Johnson Business School supporting the development of the new Cornell Tech Campus in New York City.