Leyla Alaton (born 21 April 1961, Istanbul) is a Turkish businessperson and executive. She completed her education in Türkiye before pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies in the United States. In addition to her roles at Alarko Holding, she has founded her own ventures and built a career profile marked by active engagement in civil society initiatives and numerous awards and honors.

Early Life and Education

Leyla Alaton was born on 21 April 1961 in Istanbul as the first child of a Turkish Jewish father, İshak Alaton, one of the founders of Alarko Holding, and a Swedish mother, Margarete von Proschek. She has a younger brother, Vedat Aksel Alaton (born 1963).

She completed her primary education at the elementary division of Şişli Terakki High School, her secondary education at Sainte-Pulchérie French Girls’ Middle School, and her high school education at Notre Dame de Sion French High School. Moving to the United States for higher education, she graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey with a degree in Business (Business Administration and Management). She later earned a master’s degree in Industrial Psychology (Social Sciences) at New York University. She is fluent in English and French.

Career

Years in the United States and Early Ventures

During her student years in the United States, Leyla Alaton launched small-scale commercial activities by marketing men’s belts imported from Türkiye. Within two years, this venture achieved a turnover of two million dollars.

Alarko Holding and Activities in Türkiye

In 1986, after completing her master’s degree, she returned to Türkiye and began her professional career as an assistant to Üzeyir Garih, a founding partner of Alarko Holding. In 1989, she assumed the role of Public Relations Coordinator for the Alarko Companies Group, overseeing the promotion and marketing of projects such as Alkent Etiler Uyduşehir and Alsit Villakent. Since 2008, she has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Alarko Holding A.Ş.

Corporate Ventures

In 1993, she independently founded Megatrend Public Relations Consulting Company. Through this firm, she provided consulting services to international organizations such as Aérospatiale and Alcatel.

Additionally, since 2007, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Alvimedica, a company established by İshak Alaton that exports technologically advanced medical devices produced locally, starting with stents.

Civil Society Activities

Alaton is a member and board member of various associations and civil society organizations, including the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), the Society for the Protection of Natural Heritage, and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA). She has actively participated in initiatives focused on women’s empowerment, sustainability, and social responsibility, and has delivered lectures on entrepreneurship at several universities.

Personal Life

Leyla Alaton married businessman and photography artist Mehmet Günyeli on 31 May 1998. They have two sons, Efe Eros (born 1999) and Alp Atlas (born 2001). The couple divorced in 2009 after eleven years of marriage.

Awards and Honors

Some of the awards and honors conferred upon Leyla Alaton during her career include:

• 1992: National Productivity Center “Businesswoman of the Year” Award
• 1993: Selection to the World Economic Forum in Davos “Leaders of Tomorrow” list
• 2008: The Economist “Achievement in Business Life” Award
• 2014: French Légion d’Honneur Medal
• 2015: Republic of Türkiye State Distinguished Service Medal