Zeki Yeşildağ

Zeki Yeşildağ (born in 1961 in Rize) has various companies dealing with construction and food business since the 1990s – and he also has recently purchased a media company. Since 1989, he has been in politics, e.g. as a member of the AKP's board of directors and city council in İstanbul.

In 2017, Zeki Yeşildağ purchased “Es Yayıncılık” and its all media assets including three TV channels, three newspapers, and their connected web-sites as well as two radio stations, owned by Ethem Sancak.

The firm's capital is now 19 million 40 thousand Turkish liras. According to Trade Registry Gazette published on October 30, 2017, Zeki Yeşildağ is only owner of the company. In addition to his investments in media sector, according to Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, he is a partner of Burak Turizm Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi and member of the board of directors at Kased Enerji Anonim Şirketi.

The media outlets of Es Yayıncılık were previously following the rhetoric of and political line the ruling party AKP. The media group, for example, stated that they are one of the cornerstones of the "New Turkey", a rhetoric used by Erdoğan to define the vision of a new country with immense power and democracy. The sale did not change its stance toward to government

The brother of Zeki Yeşildağ, Hasan Yeşildağ is known with his close ties with Erdoğan. Based on the book, "Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Bir Liderin Doğuşu" by Hüseyin Besli, AKP's 22nd term parliament, Hasan Yeşildağ is said to have committed a crime on purpose, just to be jailed for four months in order to protect Erdoğan in prison.