About Vehbi Koç Vehbi Koç (July 20, 1901 – February 25, 1996), born in Çoraklı, Ankara, Turkey, was a Turkish entrepreneur and philanthropist. He founded the Koç Group, one of Turkey’s largest and most prestigious group of companies. During his lifetime he came to be one of Turkey's richest citizens. Vehbi Koç was a very active businessman in industrialization, institutionalization, professional administration and, through his charitable foundations, in education, health, and social services. He died on February 25, 1996 in Istanbul and was laid to rest at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. He is succeeded by his son Rahmi Koç (1930), and his daughters Semahat Arsel (1928), Sevgi Gönül (1938-2003) and Suna Kıraç (1941).