Ahmet Hamoğlu
Ahmet Hamoğlu (1948, Çorum – 15 May 2022, Croatia) was a well-known Turkish industrialist and tourism entrepreneur, founder of the Klassis Hotel and Golf Club and of Maxi Shopping City, one of Istanbul’s major shopping malls.
A note on his birth year: The official list of the Çorum Directorate of Culture and Tourism gives his birth year as 1946; independent sources (Biyografya.com, kimkimdir.net.tr) give 1948. This page follows the independent sources.
Education and Early Career
Born in Çorum, Hamoğlu completed his secondary education at Istanbul’s Haydarpaşa Lisesi before entering business in the brick industry, founding the Volkan 1, 2 and 3 Brick and Tile Factories.
Tourism and Industrial Ventures
In 1989 he opened the Klassis Resort Hotel in Silivri to Turkish and international tourism, and in 1994 founded the Klassis Golf and Country Club, which hosted world golf championships. In 1996 he opened Maxi Shopping City, then Istanbul’s largest shopping mall, followed a year later by a branch in Tekirdağ. Through Hamoğlu Holding he managed numerous companies spanning brick and tile manufacturing, hospitality, golf and retail, and was at one point listed by Forbes among Turkey’s wealthiest businesspeople.
Role in Sport
He served for a period on the board of Beşiktaş Gymnastics Club.
Death
Ahmet Hamoğlu died in Croatia on 15 May 2022, where he had been receiving treatment following a fall. His funeral prayers were held at Çorum’s Ulu Mosque, after which he was buried in Çorum.
For more on Çorum’s trade and industry community, see Çorum Chamber of Commerce and Industry.