The American Turkish Society was founded on June 29, 1949 when eight men gathered in New York City to announce its establishment. Its founding members were Selim Sarper, Ernest Jackh, Asa Jennings, Lewis Owen, Charles Wylie and three Turkish representatives, ex oficio. The organization was formed in order to further cross-cultural understanding between the United States and Turkey. In 1979, the organization restructured and Atlantic Records founder, Ahmet Ertegun, became chairman of the board of directors. He served as chairman until his death in 2006. The current chairman is Murat Köprülü, Head of Emerging Markets and Global Investment Strategy for a major hedge fund group based in New York.