Stelios Haji-Ioannou KBE

About

Stelios is a serial entrepreneur and an innovative Marketer. He is best known for his easyJet start-up in 1995, at the age of just 28, it was the beginning of a series of ventures under the Easy brand.

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou studied Economics at the London School of Economics, graduating with a BSc in 1987. He went on to obtain an MSc in Shipping, Trade & Finance from Cass Business School.

A self-labelled “serial entrepreneur”, Haji-Ioannou started working in 1988 for his father’s already successful shipping business, Troodos Shipping Co Ltd.

Haji-Ioannou started EasyJet in 1995 when he was 28. In 2000, EasyJet PLC was partially floated on the London Stock Exchange.

EasyJet PLC, which is one of Europe’s largest low cost airlines by revenues with a fleet of 175 (+64 orders) Jets and growing, carried 33 million passengers in 2006.

The businesses outside the travel industry include internet cafés, online price comparison, personal finance, cinema, male toiletries, online recruitment, pizza delivery, music downloads, mobile telephony, offices and wrist watches.

In 2006, at the age of 39, Stelios received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for services to entrepreneurship. In 2009, Stelios was nominated the Honorary General Consul for the Republic of Cyprus in the Principality of Monaco.

Stelios and his family continue to own 38% of easyJet where he retains a keen interest in the airline as its largest shareholder.

Haji-Ioannou is a member of the New Enterprise Council, a group set up to advise the Conservative Party on business policy.

Haji-Ioannou’s foundation, The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, supports education, entrepreneurial initiatives and environmental initiatives through providing funding and advice in the UK, Monaco, Greece and Cyprus.

The foundation donates each year scholarships for ten undergraduate students to study for a period of up to of three years at his alma mater, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and for ten postgraduate students at his other alma mater, the City University, London.

In the last five years, Stelios has begun to concentrate on making a difference to society by launching a number of philanthropic initiatives supporting entrepreneurship, higher education and environmental sustainability.

Stelios’ considerable business experience, combined with his pleasing manner, informed approach and articulate delivery, make him a natural choice for personal appearances, motivational and after dinner speaking, as well as corporate days and promotions.