PLANET Turkey’s entered a significant growth phase as Turkish businessman Fesih Zeki Mert becomes a shareholder in the company as a strategic investor by 50 percent. The signature ceremony between the two leading organizations was held in a hotel in Ankara. The signature ceremony was attended by Fesih Zeki Mert, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Van Horne Construction, and Christos Giannakopoulos, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and CEO of PLANET Group. Following the signatures, the two men answered the questions of the journalists and gave information about their projects and work.
The collaboration will strengthen PLANET Turkey's core advisory services and expand its access to key markets in Asia. With this partnership, PLANET Turkey will focus on offering large-scale co-financed reform and infrastructure projects, aiming at enhancing its presence in Türkiye and neighboring countries.
PLANET Turkey was established in 2001 following the acquisition of Ernst & Young Turkey Consulting Company by PLANET S.A. and has become an important actor in Türkiye in the field of co-financed project management consultancy. The company, which moved its head office from Istanbul to Ankara, has created a strong portfolio of infrastructure and reform projects, providing innovative solutions and strategies that contribute to the development of the country.
Van Horne Construction is a Canadian construction company specialized in construction, management and design-implementation, in which the well-known Turkish entrepreneur Fesih Zeki Mert is the chairman of the board of directors and a major shareholder. This partnership is expected to contribute to the development of PLANET Turkey with the extensive experience, expertise and strong presence of Fesih Zeki Mert in Türkiye and further strengthen the company in Türkiye and neighboring Asian countries.
C. GIANNAKOPOULOS: WE WILL DELIVER HIGH-IMPACT EFFECTIVE PROJECTS
With regard to the cooperation, Christos Giannakopoulos, President and CEO of PLANET S.A. and PLANET Turkey, said: “This strategic partnership is a critical milestone in PLANET Turkey's journey. With the support of Zeki Mert and Van Horne, we are confident that we will continue to strengthen our services in Türkiye and expand our operations to neighboring Asian countries. Together, we will continue to deliver high-impact, transformative projects that shape the future of infrastructure and reforms.”
Regarding this acquisition, Fesih Zeki Mert, the Turkish component of the partnership, said, “We’ve acquired 50% of shares in Planet Turkey upon a decision we’ve made based on our strategy to expand the operations of Van Horne in Türkiye, Planet Turkey, which provides international consultancy services, will combine the experience we’ve gained in Canada with Planet S.A's more than 35 years of experience, resulting in a great synergy for Türkiye. In the end, the winner will be our country, that is, us. The warm winds of friendship developing between Türkiye and Greece has encouraged us to develop these relations and establish partnerships. We will exhibit in a short time what both communities, who share the same history in the same geography, can do when they come together.”
