Mr. Sotiris Yiannakopoulos

He was born on 28-6-1962 and studied economics (Higher Industrial) in Thessaloniki and did his MBA in EEDE.

He has been active in the food processing sector since 1988 and has been a member of the Chamber’s Administration since 1997.

He was President from 2010 until 2014, when he handed over the Presidency to the First Vice President Mr. Dimitris Adam.

In the last elections of the Chamber of Larissa (December 2018) he was re-elected as President.

Dr. George N. Zanakis

Studies

  • PhD Seed Science and Technology, University of Reading 1989-1992
  • MSc Crop Physiology, University of Reading 1988 – 1989
  • BSc in Agriculture, Agricultural University of Athens 1982 – 1988

Carrier

  • Hellaseed S.A. 1994 – 1997
  • Pioneer hi bred Hellas 1998 – 2017
  • Corteva Agriscience Hellas 2017 to date, Marketing & Development Manager

Dr. Dimitrios Savvas

Dr. Dimitrios Savvas is a Professor of Vegetable Production at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA). Prof. Savvas was awarded a Diploma in Agriculture from AUA in 1985 and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Bonn, Germany, in 1992. Since 2006 he is a Professor in AUA.

He specializes in vegetable production emphasizing on plant nutrition, water management, and greenhouse crops. He has published over 100 papers in refereed international scientific journals (h-index=26) and many other papers in congress proceedings and as book chapters.

He is a member of the Editorial Board in five international Scientific Journals with I.F. In the last 5 years, in addition to several national research projects, he coordinated the AUA team in the European research projects LEGUME FUTURES (FP7), EUROLEGUME (FP7), TOMRES (HORIZON2020), TRUE (HORIZON2020) and VEGADAPT (PRIMA 2018). Since September 2019 he is the Dean of the Faculty of Plant Sciences in AUA.

Mr. Aristotelis Basdanis

Born in Volos on 15th April 1962. Married and father of 3 children. Graduated with excellence from the University of Trieste, Italy as DOTTORE IN SCIENZE POLITICHE (INDIRIZZO POLITICO – ECONOMICO). Military service in the island of Chios. The last 25 years owns a food enterprise.

POLITICAL/SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

  • 2011 – today President of the Chamber of Magnesia
  • 2021 President of the Regional Council of Thessalian Chambers
  • 2011-2014 Councilor of the enlarged Municipality of Volos
  • 2011-2012 Vice President of the Committee for the quality of life in the Municipality of Volos
  • 2009-2010 President of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of New Ionia, in Magnesia
  • 2007-2008 President of the Child Centre and Family Care Organization of the Municipality of New Ionia, in Magnesia
  • 2003-2006 Vice President of the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of New Ionia, in Magnesia
  • 2003-2010 Municipal Councilor of the Municipality of New Ionia, in Magnesia
  • 1996 Co-Founder of the Group “PROMITHEAS Industrial S.A.” for the constitution of a small and small and medium enterprises’ network (aprox. 150) in the Regions of Thessaly and Macedonia, aiming at achieving better agreements with industries

 

Dr. Christos Triantopoulos

Dr Christos Triantopoulos is the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister for State Aid and Natural Disaster Recovery. He studied Economics in the University of Crete and he completed his Master Degree in European and International Studies at the University of Athens. He holds a PhD in Comparative Political Economy (Athens University of Economics and Business), and he completed a part of his studies in the London School of Economics, with scholarship. From 2014 to 2019 he was a Research Fellow at the Centre of Planning and Economic Research, specialized on financial system supervision and regulation. During his research activity, he published numerous reports and papers in scientific journals and he contributed to Greek and foreign collective works. He taught economics and fiscal policy in the University of Thessaly, the Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese and the National School of Public Administration and Local Government. Moreover, he was employed as Scientific Associate for Economic Affairs in the Hellenic Parliament and the Hellenic Fiscal Council, Advisor in the General Accounting Office of the Ministry of Finance, and in the Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism. From 2019 to 2021 he served as General Secretary of Economic Policy in the Ministry of Finance.

Mr. Konstantinos Tsililis

Mr. Tsililis is born in 1960 in Fotino, a small village of Kalabaka where his parents were also born and raised. Having completed his school studies in Trikala, he obtained a degree in Physics at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 1983.

Having worked as a physics teacher in Trikala for small period, he then moved to Athens where he worked as salesman in “BRAVO” company. In 1989 he returned to Trikala and established “K.Tsililis” company. Located in Raxa, main activity of the company is the production and bottling of Tsipouro; this way his beloved hobby becomes his main professional occupation.

The outcome is the first bottled Tsipouro of Thessaly with geographical indication, named “Tsilili”, and released on the market in 1990. His love and passion for the family vineyard and distillates, contributed to the promotion and establishment of Tsipouro in the Greek market.

He is president and CEO of “K.TSILILIS S.A.”, a company he successfully manages and grows since establishment. Konstantinos Tsililis is married to Konstantina Mouzaki and proud father of two sons.

Mr. Kostas Theocharidis

Kostas Theocharidis  was born in Thessaloniki in June 1966.  He is a graduate of the Faculty of the University of Catania Italy (1991) and oversees markets in raw materials of Barilla Hellas. He developed the program growing durum wheat contract in Greece and participated in the working group of YATT for the national strategy on cereals.

His work included activities such as: ” Markets forecasting procurement for ” Financial instruments markets for commodities ” Cost saving generation ” Negotiations ” Effective ” Risk Management ” Purchasing ” Vendor assurance HACCP management coordination in stored products and to the standard ISO 14001:2004. Finally, in the context of the development of the Barilla program for the sustainable wheat production, he is responsible for the coordination of research and the promotion of new sustainable cultivation methods in Greece.

He speaks Italian and English

Mr. Vassilis Giagiakos

Vasileios Giagiakos was born, raised and currently resides in Trikala. He has a Geology degree from the University of Bologna and excellent command of the Italian language.

Since 1986 he has been active in research and constructions in his field of expertise. Since 1990 he has been professionally involved with the construction company «GEOKAT G.P.» and the company «ILIACTIDA S.A. (car dealership, agricultural supplies and solar energy production). Since 1997 he has been an elected member of the Chamber of Trikala, holding the position of President from 2004 onwards. From 2007 onwards, he has been the President of the Development company of the Chamber of Trikala «ANAPTYXIS S.A.».

With the support of the Chambers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he took the initiative for the Networking of Chambers for Greek expatriate entrepreneurs. Since 2014 he has been a member of the board of the Hellenic – Chinese Chamber. Since 2015 he has been a member of the board of the Italian – Hellenic Chamber of Thessaloniki. He represents the Chambers of Thessaly at the Regional Development Fund of Thessaly. Since 2016 he has been the Greek representative in «The Mirabilia Network of European Chambers with UNESCO World Heritage Sites». Since 2017 he has been the President of the Destination Management Organization of the Regional Unit of Trikala. In 2001 he was elected Vice President of the Central Union of Greek Chambers. He also served as President of the Corporate and Technological Development Centre of Thessaly.

In 2005 he founded «Taste of Trikala S.A.» which formed the brand name “METEORISIMO” for the promotion local products and gastronomy. The variety of actions he has taken for the involvement of the business community in all sectors of the economy has greatly improved the possibilities of development for the Chamber member – companies. More specifically, during his presidency at the Chamber of Trikala, he has taken initiatives and actualized a set of actions to promote the relative benefits of the region in the fields of tourism, primary production and processing as well as in e-commerce.

He was pro-active in establishing the Agricultural Division of the Chamber of Trikala (which is the only one of its kind in Greece) based on his firm belief that the agrifood sector is essential for the economic development of Greece.

Vasileios Giagiakos is married to Maria Athanasiou, biopathologist – microbiologist, and they have three children