Robert Yuksel Yildirim

Short Bio:

Robert Yuksel Yildirim is the President and CEO of Yildirim Group of Companies. He was born in Sivas, Turkey in 1960. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Istanbul Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey in 1983. In 1989, he received his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, USA. He began his career as a design and project engineer at Paceco Corporation in San Mateo, California, USA, working for five years for designing container cranes. Robert Yuksel Yildirim joined the management board of the family-owned company in 1993. The same year, he conducted the first international achievement of the company, directly importing coal from Russia. He led the group in new initiatives in the 2000s, and in 2008, the Group made its first international acquisition in Sweden. Today, Yildirim Group is a global player in metals and mining, port management, coal and coke, fertilizers and chemicals, energy, and maritime industry. Lloyd’s List ranks Robert Yuksel Yildirim among the top 100 most influential people in the shipping industry (#46), and among top 10 most powerful people in container terminals industry (#8). Consulting company Drewry lists him as one of the top 20 global leaders in port operations. Robert Yuksel Yildirim is also among the top 3 leaders of the global chromium industry. In addition to his responsibilities at Yildirim Group, he is a Board Member of CMA CGM Group, and Yildirim Group owns 24% of its shares. He is also a Member of the Board of Trustees at Garip & Zeycan Yildirim Foundation, and the Chairman of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Turkey-Colombia Business Council. Robert Yuksel Yildirim is married and has two children.