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Murat Köprülü is an American-Turkish businessman and philanthropist. He is the Chairman of The American Turkish Society,founded in 1949, America’s oldest not-for-profit organization seeking to established in the U.S., which seeks to enhance economic, diplomatic, cultural, and educational ties between the United States and Turkey. He is also the head of the Emerging Markets Group at Mariner Investment Group LLC, an alternative investment management firm which manages more than $11 billion of assets across multiple credit and fixed income related strategies.

Business Career
Mr. Köprülü began his career at the World Bank, where he worked from 1980 through 1983 at the Turkey Desk and the Egypt Desk. From 1983 to 1986, Mr. Köprülü was Managing Director of IntraLink, Ltd., an international trade finance advisory firm, which provided financing sources for international trade transactions in a diverse list of emerging countries such as Egypt, Ivory Coast, Greece, Turkey, and the Philippines.

Mr. Köprülü was formerly CEO of Multilateral Funding International (MFI), a New York based emerging markets investment and financial advisory firm, which he founded in 1988, specializing in the regions comprising Eastern Europe, Russia, Turkey, Middle East, and Central Asia. He was also the Managing Partner of MFI's brokerage affiliate, MFI Securities, L.P., trading in the capital markets of the same regions. In 2004, MFI established the Turkey Opportunity Fund to invest in Turkish equities.

Mr. Köprülü is also a member of the Bretton Woods Committee. He was presented with an Award of Excellence in 2004 from the International Center in New York.

Philanthropy


Mr. Köprülü's charitable work has mainly focused on strengthening educational and cultural ties between the U.S. and Turkey. He is the Chairman of The American Turkish Society. He assumed this position in June 2007 after the passing of Ahmet Ertegun, the previous chairman of The Society, a prominent American-Turkish businessman and musician, and the founder of Atlantic Records, in 2006.

The American Turkish Society’s mission is to enhance business, economic, diplomatic, and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States. The Society convenes leaders in government, business, and civil society to discuss and advance U.S.-Turkish relations; fosters understanding and cooperation between the two countries through education, cultural exchange, philanthropy, and networking; informs the American public about Turkey’s current affairs, economy, history, and society; presents and supports programs highlighting Turkish arts and culture through its cultural outfit, Moon and Stars Project; and nurtures the next generation of leaders through its “Young Society Leaders” program.

Additionally, The Society has hosted annual gala dinners since 2006 to highlight and celebrate successful economic partnerships between the United States and Turkey and honor extraordinary business leaders who exemplify U.S.-Turkish friendship. Proceeds from the gala dinner support The American Turkish Society's wide-ranging educational and cultural programs.

The 2013 Benefit Gala, held at the New York Stock Exchange, celebrated U.S.-Turkish financial ties and honored U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Turkey Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek.

Education and Personal Life
Mr. Köprülü holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Maryland, a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics and an M.Phil in International Trade and Finance from Columbia University. He is an expert on Middle East geopolitics & conflict, and is a frequent media commentator on emerging market economies, Turkey, and U.S.-Turkey relations. He is proficient in Spanish and fluent in English, Turkish and French.

Mr. Köprülü has completed five New York City Marathons, two Bosphorus Swim Competitions, three Narragansett Bay Swim Competitions, and, most recently, the Hunter Mountain Olympic Triathlon in September 2013.

Mr. Köprülü is a descendant of the Köprülü family, a noble family of Albanian origin during the Ottoman Empire. His father, Ertugrul Mehmet Köprülü (1931-1983), was a Turkish diplomat to the U.S. and his grant uncle, Mehmet Fuat Köprülü (1890-1966), was a Turkish politician and historian, known for his contributions to Ottoman history, Turkish folklore, and language.