Thanasis Laskaridis Explained

Thanasis Laskaridis
Birth Name:Athanasios Laskaridis
Birth Date:8 November 1952
Birth Place:Athens, Greece
Nationality:Greek
Known For:Former President and CEO of Lavinia Corporation
Occupation:Businessman
Years Active:1974 –
Children:6
Parents:Konstantinos Laskaridis
Kaiti Laskaridis

Thanasis Laskaridis (Greek: Θανάσης Λασκαρίδης; born 8 November 1952) is a Greek shipowner and businessman[1] [2] [3] based in the United Kingdom.[4] He was president and CEO of Lavinia Corporation from 1977 until 2021.[5] [6] [7] He is also founder of the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation,[8] The People's Trust in Greece,[9] and co-founder (together with his brother Panos) of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation. He has six children.[10]

Biography

Early life and education

He was born in Athens, Greece, to Konstantinos (Constantine) and Aikaterini (Kaiti) Laskaridis and has one older brother, Panos Laskaridis.[11] He graduated from the German School of Athens in 1970 and went on to receive a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering[12] at Aston University of Birmingham in 1973, a Master's degree in Systems Engineering at Imperial College London in 1974 and a second Master's degree in Economics and Finance at the London School of Economics in 1975.

Business interests

During the mid-1970s he started his career in shipping by taking control of the small family fishing company along with his brother.[13] The two brothers became the majority shareholders[14] of Lavinia Corporation, a shipping group holding company that controls Laskaridis Shipping, an Athens-based management company founded in 1977[15] which operates reefer ships, petrol tankers, dry bulk carriers,[16] [17] [18] ship repair facilities, and marine terminals.[19]

In January 2021, Thanasis Laskaridis sold his majority stake in Lavinia Corporation, reorganizing the family's asset holdings. He kept control of the ship repair facilities and marine terminals, and created a new shipping-related group under Alimia/Laskaridis Maritime.[20]

His business activities also span across the hospitality, real estate, and airline industries (as a minority shareholder in Aegean Airlines[21]). After the intra-family reorganization in 2021, Thanasis has the substantial majority ownership and control of Lampsa Hellenic Hotels SA,[22] owner of the landmark Athens hotels Grande Bretagne,[23] King George[24] [25] and Athens Capital,[26] as well as the Hyatt Regency Belgrade.[27] He also owns Lucknam Park,[28] [29] a countryside hotel in the UK.

Charity and donations

In 1993, the Laskaridis brothers[30] founded the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation in memory of their mother. The foundation's aim is to actively support cultural and educational projects in Greece.[31] Laskaridis and his brother have donated to causes such as the Hellenic Coast Guard,[32] [33] [34] the Greek navy,[35] the Union of Greek Shipowners' charitable trust, fresh water supply projects for refugees in northern Greece and a number of Greek charitable organisations engaged with the wellbeing of children in need. Laskaridis has also donated to the London School of Economics in support of the Hellenic Observatory, where he sits on the Advisory Board.[36]

In 2014, he financed with €1.5 million[37] the restoration of Syntagma Square, the central square of Athens that had been damaged during riots and vandalism in previous years.[38] [39] [40] [41] The mayor of Athens, Giorgos Kaminis, unveiled a plaque in his honour in September 2018, for Laskaridis' contribution to the square.[42]

Thanasis Laskaridis is also the founder of The People's Trust[43] in Greece, a charitable trust dedicated to small grants for startup companies and general charity.

For his donations to the Greek Navy and coast guard, Laskaridis has been awarded by the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy and the Hellenic Coast Guard.[44] He is also an honorary member of the latter organisation.

In 2016, Thanasis Laskaridis founded the A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation (ACLCF), a non-profit organisation which aims to build partnerships and implement programmes that focus on the environment and education in Greece.[45] As part of these efforts, in 2019 the MV Typhoon, a former platform supply vessel that was converted into a special purpose ship, began operations in the Greek seas with the aim of contributing to the large scale clean-up of the coastline, as well as to research of coastal and in-water marine pollution, in cooperation with universities and research institutions.[46] [47] In 2020, the ACLCF initiated a joint effort with the Greek government to plan the campaign "Greece Without Disposable Plastics", which aims to significantly reduce the volume of disposable plastics used in the country.[48]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Θανάσης Λασκαρίδης (70). ex-dsathen.gr. Alumni-Verein der Deutschen Schule Athen. Greek. 2 November 2016.
  2. News: Οι φιλοδοξίες των αδελφών Λασκαρίδη. Skordilis. Giorgos S.. 24 June 2007. tovima.gr. Greek. 2 November 2016.
  3. Book: Lloyd's List: NEXT GENERATION 2012. Most Influential People in the Shipping Industry. Informa UK Ltd. 2012. Meade. Richard. London. 14.
  4. Seatrade Magazine, 1986, Vol. 16, p. 16.
  5. Web site: Papachristou. Harry. 11 March 2021. Laskaridis reshuffle leaves Panos branch of family in charge of shipping. 8 February 2022. Trade Winds.
  6. Web site: Structure of the Hellenic Observatory. 2 June 2016. London School of Economics. 29 November 2016.
  7. Web site: 11 March 2021. Θανάσης και Πάνος Λασκαρίδης: Ανακατανομές και ανακατατάξεις λίγο πριν παραδώσουν τη σκύταλη στην επόμενη γενιά. 14 October 2021. mononews.gr. Greek.
  8. News: Από τους καθαρισμούς των ακτών στην νέα θαλάσσια οικονομία. Tsaousis. Kostas. 21 November 2017. protothema.gr. 22 November 2017. Greek.
  9. Web site: Top 100 – 101. Laskaridis family, Lavinia Group. lloydslist.com. Lloyd's List. 19 January 2017.
  10. News: Laskaridis family looks to the future. 24 May 2012. Lloyd's List. 16 March 2017.
  11. Web site: Kaiti Laskaridou. Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation. 10 October 2016.
  12. Book: Hellēnes ephoplistes kai nautiliakes epicheirēseis: organōsē, dioikēsē kai stratēgikē. Theotokas. Giannis. Harlaftis. Gelina. Alexandria Publications. 2007. 978-960-221-375-9. Athens. 122.
  13. News: Στη μεγάλη ευκαιρία του τουρισμού ποντάρουν οι αδελφοί Λασκαρίδη. 29 November 2016. dealnews.gr. 28 June 2015. Greek.
  14. Web site: Πάνος Λασκαρίδης (65). ex-dsathen.gr. Alumni-Verein der Deutschen Schule Athen. Greek. 2 November 2016.
  15. Web site: Whittaker. Gillian. 23 May 2014. Panos and Thanassis Laskaridis. Going in for the krill. 16 March 2017. Trade Winds.
  16. News: Late reefer revival buoys Laskaridis. 1 May 2015. lloydslist.com. 15 November 2016.
  17. News: Laskaridis sees family future in bulkers. 11 October 2012. lloydslist.com. 15 November 2016.
  18. News: Prominent Owners: Laskaridis Grows Dry Bulk Presence with $1bn Investment Program. 30 May 2014. TradeWinds.
  19. News: Laskaridis invests in $100m Montevideo bulk terminal. tradewindsnews.com. 15 November 2016.
  20. Web site: Γεωργίου . Γιώργος . 12 January 2023 . Νέο ναυτιλιακό εγχείρημα από τον Θανάση Λασκαρίδη . 25 January 2023 . Naftemporiki . Greek.
  21. News: Laskaridis sinks cash into airline. Trade Winds. 11 October 2016.
  22. Web site: 29 July 2021. Λάμψα: Το νέο Δ.Σ. που εξελέγη από τη Γ.Σ.. 14 October 2021. capital.gr. Greek.
  23. News: Gage. Nicholas. 17 June 2013. A look at the financial crisis in Greece, including how the shipping industry could impact the country's future.. Town and Country Magazine. Nicholas Gage. 10 October 2016.
  24. News: Katsoli. Evi. 14 December 2012. ΘΑΝΑΣΗΣ & ΠΑΝΟΣ ΛΑΣΚΑΡΙΔΗΣ – Μπαράζ επενδύσεων κόντρα στο... ρεύμα της κρίσης. Greek. Deal News.
  25. Web site: 8 August 2013. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Expands Footprint in Greece with the Debut of King George, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens. 10 October 2016. Business Wire.
  26. Web site: 20 January 2021. ΛΑΜΨΑ: Ενισχύει τη θέση της η οικογένεια του Θ. Λασκαρίδη. 14 October 2021. mononews.gr. Greek.
  27. Web site: Hyatt Regency Belgrade – Lampsa Hellenic Hotels SA. 10 October 2016. Lampsa.eu.
  28. Web site: Lucknam Park Hotels Limited – Company Information. 10 October 2016. Endole.
  29. Web site: 5 October 2021. Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa is the best hotel in the UK: Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. 8 February 2022. themanews.com.
  30. November 2015. Jaques. Bob. Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation dives deep. Hellas Maritime supplement to Seatrade Magazine. 13. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151205022733/http://www.posidonia-events.com/Images/Hellas-Maritime-2015.aspx. 2015-12-05.
  31. Web site: Foundation History. Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation. 10 October 2016.
  32. Web site: The Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation funds the major repair of two Coast Guard vessels. 11 October 2016.
  33. Web site: Τελετή απόδοσης σε ενέργεια του ΠΑΘ 050. 10 December 2015. Hellenic Coast Guard. Greek. 5 February 2017.
  34. Web site: Η ΛΕΣΧΗ Λ.Σ. έκοψε την πρωτοχρονιάτικη πίτα της. 28 January 2017. Λέσχη Λιμενικού Σώματος. Greek. 20 April 2017.
  35. Web site: 25 November 2021. Hellenic Navy launches new support ship. 8 February 2022. Kathimerini.
  36. Web site: Structure of the Hellenic Observatory. London School of Economics. 10 October 2016.
  37. News: Δωρεά από Λάμψα ο φωτισμός της πλατείας Συντάγματος. Kousounis. Stathis. 8 April 2017. Kathimerini. 19 April 2017. Greek.
  38. News: Grande Bretagne roof garden, Athens. Hope. Kerin. 31 March 2014. Financial Times. 11 November 2016.
  39. Web site: The New Syntagma Square in Athens. Kalmouki. Nikoleta. 8 October 2014. GreekReporter. 10 October 2016.
  40. News: Η υιοθεσία της πλατείας Συντάγματος. Vatopoulos. Nikos. 8 March 2014. Kathimerini. 2 March 2017. Greek.
  41. News: Syntagma Square revamped. Tsiliopoulos. E.. 28 March 2014. New Greek TV The Greek Channel of New York. 16 March 2017.
  42. Web site: 25 September 2018. Athens Honors Laskaridis for Syntagma Square Refurbishment Donation. 8 February 2022. Greek Travel Pages.
  43. Web site: About us. The People's Trust. 5 February 2017.
  44. Web site: Η ευγενική δωρεά της οικογένειας Λασκαρίδη προς το Λιμενικό Σώμα. 11 December 2015. Marine Chronicles. Greek. 20 April 2017.
  45. News: Ιδρυμα Α. Κ. Λασκαρίδη: Εστιάζει στην ενίσχυση του κόσμου της θάλασσας. 22 November 2017. tovima.gr. 23 November 2017. Greek.
  46. Web site: Nothing Can Stop The Typhoon. 11 August 2019. All About Shipping. 20 August 2019.
  47. Web site: 26 June 2020. "Typhoon Project": To υπερσύγχρονο πλοίο "Τυφώνας" στη Μακρόνησο σε μια ξεχωριστή αποστολή καθαρισμού. 8 February 2022. Fortune Greece. Greek.
  48. Web site: 26 June 2020. PM Mitsotakis Briefed on Progress in Phasing out Disposable Plastic. 20 August 2020. The National Herald.

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