The founder of our company Mr.Ahmet Veli Menger was born on December 8th 1891 in the city of Petropawlowsk, Siberia. His father, Mehmetcan Ibrahimoff, had 13 children. He was the youngest of them all. While attending the theological school (for imams and preachers) he found the teaching inadequate and wishing to continue his education at Galatasaray Lycee (High School), ran away from home with one of his friends. He was located at Odessa and returned to his family. Disapproving further education for him, his father made him work as an "apprentice" in his brother's grocery store.

At the age of 18, he realized that the grocery store held no future for him. He took a small position in the Russian organization of German firm “Stucken ", based at Bremen, Germany, engaged in wool and fur trade. Being speedily promoted, he was vested with a power of attorney and sent to Mongolia on company's business. Meanwhile revolution in Russia was taking effect throughout the country. Rather than returning to Russia, Mr. Ahmet Veli Menger preferred to remain in China.

In the year 1925 he married Miss Ayşe (Hanım), the daughter of Satlıgan Family family of Turkish origin who just like him, had immigrated from Russia. He settled in Tientsin, a province in Northern China. Here, in the year 1927 their daughter Safiye Menger was born to them.

Mr. Ahmet Veli Menger, receiving his training in the "Stukin" firm as a wool and fur expert, had now founded an independent firm in China, exporting these commodities.
During the 11 years he was in China, the number of his branches had increased to 42, with wool cleaning and processing plants in two locations. In the beginning, most of his exports were directed to England. Later on, with the cooperation of "Melchers", a German firm, the exports were extended to Germany. Since trading became difficult in 1937, due to Japanese occupation of China, after liquidating his business, he found it more appropriate to immigrate to Turkey. Leaving Tientsin, he arrived in Europe via Japan and America temporarily settling down in Berlin where he applied to the Turkish Government for immigration.

Towards the end of 1938, the approval was received from Ankara. He settled down in Istanbul together with his family, opening a small business office in Karaköy. In autumn of 1939, on the eve of World War II, the trade in general became stagnant. After the war when German firms commenced their activities, Mr. Ahmet Veli Menger received many offers through "Melchers", from a number of firms including "Daimler-Benz" and "Bosch", to act as their representatives.

Turkey not having entered the war was in possession of sufficient foreign exchange reserves which were freely administrated by the government in that period. This opened opportunities for firms to expand themselves in the import business.
Foreseeing this situation could not go on for long, Mr.Ahmet Veli Menger endeavored to persuade the German firms which he represented, to make investments in Turkey and to start manufacturing. However, the hesitancy on part of the German firms to enter into such ventures, resulted in prolonging of negotiations for nearly ten years. Finally, the efforts bore fruit and in 1967 the "OTOMARSAN A.S." was founded and manufacturing of buses started.

In fact, back in 1960, Mr.Ahmet Veli Menger, strongly recommended and insisted on Bosch to manufacture car batteries and refrigerators in Turkey. This produced no result. Through his adamant determination and effort, in the year 1970 a "ROBERT BOSCH TURKISH" plant was built jointly with "BOSCH" to manufacture injection nozzles.

One of Mr.Ahmet Veli Menger’s major ideals was to possess an up-to-date modern farm-to prove that modernisation of farming and husbandry of milk producing livestock were also vitally important to Turkish economy - a country blessed with rich agricultural resources. In the year 1955, Mr.Ahmet Veli Menger bought the "Köstemir" farm near Silivri. His agricultural investments have thus begun with this acquisition and within a period of some 10 years, he became the owner of one of the most modern farms in the Middle-East. Subsequently, he founded Gülçin Farm Agriculture and Trade Joint Stock Company. His activities were not restricted to this venture. He continued to forge ahead, creating fresh enterprises both in commerce and industry, establishing new companies and participating in others. Integrating all of his business enterprises under Ahmet Veli Menger Holding Joint Stock Company, the organization was passed on to his close colleagues and to his children. His last five years were devoted to the research of Turkish Culture, collecting Turkish literal art and forming a library. Mr. Ahmet Veli Menger continued with his efforts until the last days of his life. He passed away on November 10th 1978.