Marios Iliopoulos (Greek businessman)

Marios Iliopoulos (Greek: Μάριος Ηλιόπουλος) is a Greek shipowner and businessman. He is the founder and owner of Greek ferry company Seajets.[2] On 10 July 2024, Iliopoulos bought Greek football team AEK Athens F.C. becoming the majority shareholder with a 85,03% stake of the club.[3] [4]

Marios Iliopoulos
Born54–55[1]
Psychiko, Greece
Occupation(s)Shipowner
Businessman
Board member ofFounder & owner of Seajets
Owner of AEK Athens F.C.

Early life

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Marios Iliopoulos was born in 1969, son of Panagiotis and Despoina. He was one of three boys in the family, his two brothers were Yiannis (who passed away in 2017) and Antonis.[5]

Iliopoulos grew up in Psychiko a suburb of Athens, and attended Athens College.[6]. His father Panagiotis had been involved in gold trading, where he emerged as one of the leaders in his field.[7]. From 1988 he was involved in passenger shipping and in 1989, together with his son, Mario, co-founded Seajets.[8]

Seajets

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In 1989 Marios Iliopoulos alongside his father Panagiotis co-founded Greek ferry company Seajets. Seajets is now one of Greece's leading high speed ferry companies. In 2018 Seajets received the ”Passenger Line of the Year” award in the 15th “Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards 2018”[9] and in 2019 Seajets HSC WorldChampion Jet was awarded “ship of the year” during the Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards 2019 ceremony.[10]

As of 2024, Seajets fleet consists 26 highspeed ferries, 6 conventional ferries and 4 cruise ships.[11]

AEK Athens F.C.

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On 10 July 2024, Iliopoulos bought Greek football team AEK Athens F.C.. The fee of the take over is estimated to be in the range of €90 million.[12]

Iliopoulos is the majority shareholder with a 85,03% stake of the club.[13]

At the press conference Iliopoulos stated, “I will give my soul, my mind… my whole being to conquer titles”.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "Marios Iliopoulos age". sport24. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Interview with Marios Iliopoulos (SeaJets):". Ferry Shipping News.
  3. ^ Papachristou (h_papachristou), Harry (June 10, 2024). "Marios Iliopoulos buys AEK Athens football club from Dimitris Melissanidis". TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news.
  4. ^ "Επίσημα νέος μεγαλομέτοχος της ΠΑΕ ΑΕΚ ο Μάριος Ηλιόπουλος - Αυτό είναι το ποσοστό των μετοχών του". www.sport24.gr.
  5. ^ "Marios Iliopoulos early life". sport24. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Marios Iliopoulos education". sport24. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Panagiotis Iliopoulos". sport24. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Seajets". sport24. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Seajets receive Lloyd's award". Seajet. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Seajets HSC World Champion jet received Lloyd's award". Ferry Shipping News. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Seajets fleet". Seajets.
  12. ^ "Iliopoulos AEK". NEOS KOSMOS.
  13. ^ "Iliopoulos buy AEK". TradeWinds.
  14. ^ "Iliopoulos interview". NEOS KOSMOS.