Mr. Pekin Baran is the Chairman and majority shareholder of Denizcilik Anonim Şirketi and its affiliated Companies, a family owned group established in 1952. The main activity of the group has always been in Shipping, specialising in worldwide transportation of dry and wet bulk cargoes. Born in Istanbul in 1941, Mr. Baran is a law graduate from The Faculty of Law in Paris. He is a member of the Turkish Chamber of Shipping of which he was a founder and its first Chairman in 1982, as well as a member of the Turkish Maritime Education Foundation of which he was also a founder and first Chairman between 1993-1996. He is a Vice President of High Consultative Council of TUSIAD, The Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association, a Vice President of the Turkish - French Business Council and a member of the Turkish - British Business Council of DEIK; The Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board. He is Vice President of Galatasaray University Education Foundation’s High Council and of Piri Reis University Board of Trustees.