In Memory of Constantinos Michalos

Konstantinos Mihalos. Photo source: Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce

Constantinos Michalos, the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), died of a heart attack on Friday, August 6. He was 61.

Michalos was found at his industrial exporting company – SWAN SA – based in Krioneri, Attica, which at the time was threatened by one of Friday’s many wildfires.

Born in 1960, Michalos studied Finance and Political Science at the University of Essex in United Kingdom, and pursued postgraduate studies on financial applications at the London School of Economics & Political Science (MSC).

Since 1988 he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SWAN SA, an industrial exporting company specializing in the production of natural latex products.

From 1993 to 2005 Michalos was an elected member of the board of ACCI. In 2002 he was elected in the Board of Directors of the Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Development and in 2004 he was appointed as the chamber’s Vice-Chairman. In 2003 he was elected President of the Association of North Attica Region Enterprises.

In the period 2004-2005 he served as Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Development and from 2005 to 2006 he was the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy & Finance.

Michalos was also the president of the Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce.

ACCI to rename headquarters in memory of Michalos

Photo source: ACCI

In an announcement, ACCI expressed the chamber’s deep sorrow for the loss of Michalos.

“The commerce sector has been orphaned,” ACCI said.

In his memory, ACCI has decided to donate 30,000 euros to the Municipality of Dionysos for the purchase of a fire truck. ACCI will also honor the life of Michalos by renaming its headquarters building on Amerikis Street in the center of Athens after its president.

“For 25 years he defended the interests of hundreds of thousands of Greek companies and their employees,” the Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce said in a statement on the passing of its president.

“From leading positions he systematically worked to improve the business environment and to develop modern services and tools to support entrepreneurship,” the union said.

The news of Michalos’ passing came at a shock to the business world in Greece.

The Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), on behalf of its board of directors, INSETE and Marketing Greece, expressed condolences in a statement.

“The loss of Constantinos Michalos leaves a huge void in the business community of the country… A serious businessman and active in all trade union battles that had to be fought, he sought practical solutions with a willingness to work together to solve problems,” SETE said.

His funeral will be held on Monday, August 9, at 1pm at the First Cemetery of Athens.

Michalos is survived by his wife and four children.

We, at GTP, express our sincere condolences to his family.