Leading Greek businessman and patron of the arts Odysseas Kyriakopoulos died on Sunday, aged 70, following a battle with cancer.
Kyriakopoulos, a former president of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), studied mining engineering at the University of Leoben (Austria) and University of Newcastle upon Tyne (today’s Newcastle University), and received an MBA in business management from the INSEAD business school in Fontainebleau. He assumed the management of the family company S&B, selling it to French giant IMERYS in 2014 and serving thereafter on its board of directors.
He was chairman of IMERYS Industrial Minerals Hellas SA and served as board member for the Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE), Lamda Development SA, Imerys Group, ASK Chemicals GmbH, and as member of the Bank of Greece’s General Council. He also served as vice president of Business Europe (UNICE), Hellenic Exchanges SA, and IOBE.
Kyriakopoulos had also been president of the National Opera of Greece for three years (2006-2009) but supported it for longer. He is survived by his wife, three children, and grandchildren.
Messages of condolences were issued by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who said Kyriakopoulos left “a difficult-to-replace void” in Greek economy and society, “as he combined a successful business career with an interest in the welfare of his employees, industrial tradition combined with extroverted innovation, cosmopolitanism with a quiet patriotism, and a contribution to the arts with anonymous assistance to weaker fellow human beings.”
Among others, the National Opera of Greece also expressed condolences for his passing, as did Development & Investments Minister Adonis Georgiadis.
Latest News
Gov’t Eyes Return of Power Subsidies Amid Spike in Rates
According to reports, the government will resume an electricity subsidization program, given that forecasts cite disruptions – i.e. higher rates
ELSTAT: 6.3% Increase in Output Price Index for Agriculture and Livestock
The 6.3% rise in May 2024 is largely driven by an 8.8% increase in the crop output group, particularly due to changes in olive oil prices, and a 0.5% increase in the animal output group.
Balkans Blackout Highlights Climate Threats to Power Grids
The surge in electricity demand during the heat wave and the power deficit in Balkan markets have driven up prices in the Greek wholesale electricity market.
Greece in Top 4 Destinations Favored by European Tourists
Greece was selected by 5.9% of respondents who were asked where they would vacation this year, up from 5.4% in the same survey last year
Scope Affirms Greece’s BBB- Ratings; Revises Outlook to Positive
The international ratings firm raised Greece to investment grade in early August 2023
First Seaplane Test Flights to Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros
After decades of on-again, off-again efforts to schedule regular seaplane routes to Greece's numerous island and coastal destinations the prospect now appears within sight
ELSTAT- Overall Import Price Index for May 2024 up 2.8% y-o-y
The same price index had decreased 20.8% from May 2022 to May 2023
Over 7 in 10 Employees Feel Their Contributions Are Not Appreciated
Specifically, the option "Subjective opinions are prioritized over objective data" ranked highest in importance for young employees, with a score of 3.89 out of 4
OECD: Job Vacancies on the Rise in Greece
By the fourth quarter of 2023, job vacancies per unemployed person had risen by more than 4, with the index reaching 446 units compared to 100 units in late 2019
OTE Group: FTTH Program Advancing in Semi-Urban and Rural Areas of Greece
This initiative will provide ultra-fast internet speeds of up to 1Gbps to over 350,000 households and businesses in semi-urban and rural areas across the country