Ali Avcı was born in 1956 in the Ceyhan district of Adana. He completed his primary and secondary education in this district and his higher education at Çukurova University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. Balancing his education and work life, Avcı transformed Ceynak Logistics, a local transportation company, first into a regional, then a national, and eventually an international logistics firm. As a pioneer of many firsts in the logistics sector, Avcı brought together companies such as Ceynak AŞ, Ceysan AŞ, Ceyport AŞ, Ceymar AŞ, and Samsunport AŞ under the Cey Group.
He established logistics terminals in major trade centers such as the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black Sea, Thrace, and Marmara, implementing complementary services like combined transportation. In 2008, he acquired the "Port Operation Concession Right" of the Samsun Port, which is under the Turkish State Railways (TCDD), from the Privatization Administration for a period of 36 years. Annually, Avcı gives business-oriented lectures at various universities, including Istanbul University, and actively participates as a speaker in conferences organized by different institutions.
By collaborating with universities, Avcı provides both financial and moral support to departments that train personnel for the sector. He also serves as a member of the Advisory Board of Istanbul Beykoz Logistics Vocational School, the Advisory Board of Istanbul University Application and Research Center, and holds committee memberships in various professional organizations. Additionally, he is a member of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TÜSİAD), Çukurova Industry and Business World Federation (ÇUKUROVASİFED), Mersin Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MESİAD), Yenibosna Industrialists and Businessmen Association (YENSİAD), and Bakırköy Businessmen Association (BİAD).
Avcı served as the Vice President of the Board of Directors at TÜRKONFED for the 2015-2018 period and continues his role following the Extraordinary General Assembly held in 2024.