MEDIA

02 Jul 2012

The Doyen of the Maritime Sector has passed away

Gregory Michael Kiez, who had been acting as the Board Member of Global Investment Holdings and Chairman of the Board of Global Ports Holding and has been a doyen in finance and port operations sectors in Turkey, died at the age of 50.
Kiez, who had been struggling with brain cancer namely, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) which is, according to the classification of World Health Organisation, considered to be the most advanced stage since 2009, has left a significant trace after him as a successful businessman.
Gregory Micheal Kiez was born in Canada and had been living in Turkey for 20 years. He acted as the Chairman of the Board of Ege Ports – Kusadasi, Chairman of the Board of Port Akdeniz – Antalya, Chairman of the Board of Global Ports Holding, all of which operating under Global Investment Holdings where he also acted as a Board Member.
Gregory Micheal Kiez, holds a BA degree in law from University of Toronto and was awarded many times during his academic carreer. These important awards included Scholarships of Norman Levy, Borden & Elliot, Dow-Hickson as well as James Cappon Award and James McGill Award.
Gregory Michael Kiez had not only been fighting against the disease since 2009, he also helped and made donations to create awareness of the disease, to help develop treatment methods and to help many people struggling with this disease.
During the last 20 years he spent in Turkey, Gregory Michael Kiez, who was also in love with the country, had defended the rights of Turkey many times on many platforms besides his studies to create a brand new sector and to position Turkey as a big player in this sector.
Gregory Michael Kiez had always been fighting against the negative thoughts on Turkey abroad, and tried to prove them wrong. Today, his speech at “Security Pollution” Pannel of the Maritime Trade Congress in Miami in 2004, is considered as the milestone of the ports development in Turkey.
Gregory Michael Kiez played a significant role in welfare activities targeted at deprived children and had always given a great importance on educational services, throughout his life. He pioneered the educational investments in order to train with high standards, the manpower specializing solely in tourism, required both by Global Ports Holding and all Turkish ports.
Today, Gregory Micheal Kiez Applied and Theorical Clasrooms of Adnan Menderes University Tourism and Hotel Management College facilities which are constructed under his initiative and include 12 classrooms, 3 laboratories and 2 applied training kitchens, welcomes ca. 2000 students daily.
In parallel with his philanthropic activities, Kiez had always given great importance to protection of the works of art and world's heritage. Since 2006, he had been acting as the board member of Texas A&M University-Institute of Nautical Archeology (INA) which is a well-known leading institute in maritime archeology and the leader of many excavations including Istanbul Yenikapi excavation as well as the excavation of Bronze Age Uluburnu shipwreck which is on display in Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
While acting as a top executive for many years, Kiez has been a mentor for the members of the Global Family in Global Investment Holdings and its subsidiaries and for many of his colleagues within the sector, owing to his meticulous working discipline and illuminating guidance. He left us with a final lesson in life, by setting an example as a fighter one more time, during his battle against the disease for more than two years.