Mehmet Kemal Dedeman, the son of Nazire Hanım and Rıfat Şükrü Bey, was born in 1903 in Kayseri. After the death of his father, Mehmet Kemal Dedeman was forced to leave his education and began his career at a young age in his own trading business.
These early business endeavors continued until 1924 and came to an end with the liquidation of the business, his decision to move to İzmir, and later his conscription, which took him to Kahramanmaraş for military service.
After completing his military service, Mehmet Kemal Dedeman started working at the Kayseri Courthouse as a Court Clerk. In 1931, he resigned from this position and returned to the world of commerce. This date can also be considered a turning point and marks the institutional founding of what would become the "Dedeman" brand.
In 1934, he moved to Ankara and engaged in food supply and contracting businesses. In the following years, he worked as a contractor on various construction projects such as the military airports in Yeşilköy (Istanbul), Etimesgut (Ankara), and Kütahya, as well as the Kayseri Aircraft Factory.
In 1945, under the government-initiated Yıldırım Roads Project, he undertook and completed the construction of roads between Kayseri, Kırşehir, and Sivas. The Dedeman brand began its operations in the mining sector in 1947. The first ventures in this field included the operation and export of chrome, zinc, lead, and magnesite mines.
Driven by his love and faith in his country from an early age, Mehmet Kemal Dedeman continued to serve his nation not only through his investments but also through his donations for the construction and furnishing of educational and healthcare institutions. He was awarded the “State Distinguished Service Medal” for his contributions.
Mehmet Kemal Dedeman, who passed away on February 12, 1998, at the age of 95, was the Honorary Chairman of the Dedeman Group.
