Sabanc? chair named most powerful businesswoman

Sabanc? Holding Chair Güler Sabanc? has ranked first on Fortune Turkey's annual "50 Most Powerful Businesswomen" list, followed by OMV Turkey CEO Gülsüm Azeri and the president of Turkey's top business organization, Cansen Ba?aran-Symes. Four top Do?an Group chairs were ranked on this year's list, which was released on April 13. 

The magazine said it prepared the list upon four main criteria: The volume of the company and its place in the global economy, the performance of the company, general career development of the businesswoman and her contribution to socio-cultural life. A total of 12 new names appear on this year's list, mainly from the technology, logistic, energy and retail sectors. 

Topping the list was Sabanc?, who was praised by the magazine for her bold and successful investments in 2015. OMV's Azeri, who ranked second, rose to the top with her company's successful cooperation with leading retail giants as well as several social responsibility projects, which were developed by her mainly to empower women in society. Ba?aran-Symes, the president of the Turkish Business and Industry Association (TÜS?AD) and the chair of Allianz Turkey, ranked third on the list, as her company posted very high growth rates in 2015 and the TÜS?AD developed a number of leading projects to support entrepreneurship, according to Fortune Turkey. 

The top three was followed by Akbank chair Suzan Sabanc? Dinçer, General Electric Turkey CEO Canan Özsoy, ING Bank Turkey CEO P?nar Abay, AvivaSA Insurance CEO Meral Eredenk Kurda?, Group M CEO and WPP Turkey Director Demet ?kiler, Coca-Cola Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia President Galya Frayman Molinas and Boyner Holding board member Ümit Boyner, who is also a former TÜS?AD president. 

Four...