Cuneyd Zapsu

Zapsu worked in family-owned Azizler Holding’s various companies as GM, CEO, Board Member and Chairman 1976 – 2003. Being co-founder of the Justice and Development Party, he also served as the Party’s Board Member and as the Information Coordinator to Recep Tayyip Erdogan between 2001 – 2008.Back to business after his resignation from AK Party duties in 2008 with his Cuneyd Zapsu Consultancy INC. through which he serves various companies including TPG along with his hazelnut processing company-Balsu A.S- which he founded in 1979. Besides his membership to the World Economic Forum (WEF) since 1994, he is also a Board Member of the Turkish American Business Council (TAIK) since 1994. Memberships like All Food Importers Association (TUGIDER), Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO), Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD), German-Turkish Chamber of Industry and Trade (AHK) and International Investors Association(YASED)… Since 2000, he is High Advisory Board Member of the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) and Founder and Member of the Supervisory Committee of the Young Lives Foundation (GHV) since 2008. President of the Istanbul Exporters Association 1987 – 2001, Member of the Executive Committee of INC, Reus, Spain 1996 – until now (President between 2002 – 2007). Among the awards Zapsu has received are The Federal Order of Merit from the President of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2007 for his services in the development of the relations between Turkey and Germany, Best Exporters of Turkey annual Gold Medals rewards from the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Istanbul Chamber of Industry and Ministry of Foreign Trade between the years 1986 – 1997. Cuneyd Zapsu is married and has three daughters. His primary education in Munich, German High School (Istanbul), Istanbul University and Ludwig Maximillian University Munich (B.A in Business Administration).