MNG Group of Companies - Uğur Mumcu Cd.

Mehmet Nazif Günal, the Founder and Chairman of Mapa Group, is one of Turkey’s and the world’s most successful self-made entrepreneurs and global business leaders.

Mehmet Nazif Günal was born in Artvin, Arhavi located on the Turkish Black Sea coast in 1948. His father, a shopkeeper, died when he was two-months old. He was raised with his two brothers and two sisters by his mother, who taught them the values of hard work, honesty and self-reliance.

A brilliant student, Mehmet Nazif Günal graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master of Science (MSc)degrees in Civil Engineering from the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, the best Faculty of Engineering in Turkey, whose language of instruction is English. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the same university.

From the age of 14, under the guidance of his brother-in-law who was a civil engineer, Mehmet Nazif Günal worked as a part-time construction intern and sub-contractor to financially support his family. From early on, he stood out as a result of his hard work, leadership skills and talent in optimising construction processes. By the age of 23, when he received his engineering degree, he had already contracted and built 21 buildings.

In 1976, Mehmet Nazif Günal set up Mapa Group in Turkey and developed it into one of the most successful construction companies in Turkey, Middle East and Africa. His principle to deliver every project on time and on budget, his hard-working mindset and his entrepreneurial spirit are at the heart of his success.

As Turkey became an attractive tourist destination, Mehmet Nazif Günal developed a series of hotel resorts projects throughout Turkey until today, including Ankara Hilton and İzmir Hilton. With its construction projects carried out throughout the country, Mapa Group responded to the growing demand that resulted from Turkey’s booming economy in the 1980’s, 1990’s and 2000’s. Mapa Group’s completed constructions projects span from residential buildings to roads, hotels, dams, plants, pipelines, irrigation systems, railways, ports, airports, water treatment and storage facilities. From 1996, Mehmet Nazif Günal diversified his business activities in the sectors of banking, aviation, mining and renewable energy, with great success in these sectors as well.

From 2004, Mapa Group progressively expended its construction work outside of Turkey, with a focus in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, North Africa and South-East Europe. Today, 80% of Mapa Group revenues come from outside of Turkey.

Mapa Group’s success in delivering every project on time and on budget helped it become an esteemed partner of numerous international financial institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Today, Mapa Group employs more than 20,000 people throughout the world, with annual revenue exceeding $1.3 billion. In 2020, Forbes Magazine estimated Mr. Mehmet Nazif Günal’s personal net worth at $1.6 billion.

Mr. Günal and his wife Mrs. Günal have three children, who all graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Civil Engineering from Columbia University in New York.  His children are strongly involved in Mapa Group’s operations. His eldest son, Murathan Doruk Günal has been serving as Mapa Group CEO since January 2020.

An active sportsman, Mehmet Nazif Günal enjoys boating, water skiing and walking. A committed philanthropist, he provides scholarships yearly to more than 150 students in need, to support their university studies at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara.

Mehmet Nazif Günal is a Member of the Advisory Board of the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C.