| George Vernicos Γιώργος Βερνίκος | |
| Term Start1: | 20 June 2012 |
| Office2: | Vice-Minister of Shipping |
| Term Start2: | 21 June 2012 |
| Term End2: | 30 July 2012 |
| President2: | Karolos Papoulias |
| Primeminister2: | Antonis Samaras |
| Birth Date: | 11 February 1950 |
| Birth Place: | Athens, Greece |
| Nationality: | Greek |
| Alma Mater: | Athens University |
George A. Vernicos (also Georgios Vernikos/ Greek, Modern (1453-);: Γιώργος Βερνίκος; born 11 February 1950) is a Greek entrepreneur, social activist and politician from a shipowning family, originating from the island of Sifnos, elected as a deputy to the Hellenic Parliament in the Greek legislative election of June 2012.
He obtained a degree in economics from the University of Athens before furthering his studies at London University.
He was appointed on 21 June 2012 as vice-minister for Merchant Marine and Aegean Affairs in Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's government[1] before resigning over an offshore company scandal. [2]
George Vernicos currently is secretary general of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), President of INSETE, Member of the Board of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, President of the Economic and Social Council of Greece (ΟΚΕ)[3] and honorary president of the Professional Hellenic Yacht Owners Association. He is also active in several organisations and chambers that aim towards the financial, cultural and social recovery of Greece and the defence of the citizens rights.
Additionally, he is chairman of Vernicos Yachts,[4] a Greek yacht charter and sales company, as well as co-founding shareholder of real estate company Dolphin Capital Investors. Vernicos Yachts S.A. started trading in the Athens Stock Market in 1996 until 2004 before the company changed name and scope of work. Under the name of a company in northern Greece "Leventakis Ekokkistiria" (cotton ginning plants) all valuable assets (45 yachts among other holdings) had been transferred to George A. Vernicos at a total loss for stockholders, for which he received a fine of 200.000 euros (overturned in 2013) and Leventakis Ekokkistiria flopped 30 months after the deal. [5]
George Vernicos was elected during the 1980s as councilman and Vice-Mayor of the Municipality of Athens. He has served as President of the Hellenic Register of Shipping, an international organisation dedicated to the safeguarding of life and property at sea and the prevention of marine pollution, President of Attica Group, a ferry operator, President of Nicolas E. Vernicos Shipping S.A., a salvage house, and President of Free Holdings S.A., owners and operators of ocean cargo vessels, type Panamax and Handymax and Director of Sunsail International.
In 1990, he co-established the Greenpeace office in Greece and he served for many years as board chair and trustee until June 2012. He was elected as honorary board chair of Greenpeace Greece. He has served as Director of the Greek National Tourist Organisation and as President of the Welfare Foundation G & A Hatzikonsta.
he is the grandfather of Eurovision Song Contest 2023 entrant Victor Vernicos