KASIM HİLMİ UTKU

Our founder Kasım Hilmi Utku was born in Bolu, Gerede in 1932. Following his education in Istanbul Haydarpaşa High School, he attended Ankara School of Law. Having completed his military service as a reserve officer, he began his professional career.

He established the company in Astarcı Han, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul in 1959 to undertake a number of operations with various import and export products. The company focused on leather chemicals in 1980’s.

Following the completing of infrastructure investments required for manufacture of leather chemicals in 1992, the company succeeded in manufacturing enzymatic leather chemicals requiring state-of-the-art technology and used in leather industry.

Kasım Hilmi Utku succeeded in making Debağ Kimya one of the leading companies in the industry thanks to his respectable, honest character, determination and utter belief in the importance of sustainability. He always selected his customers and suppliers based on their respectability and contribution to the country.

After the decease of our founder Kasım Hilmi Utku, who used to value knowledge and manners rather than money, DETEK (Leather Technologists, Technicians and Chemists Association) began to grant Scientific Support Awards to commemorate his name.