Book presentation-DIMITRIS MANIATAKIS/VISION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, VALUES

“Dimitris Maniatakis: Vision, Entrepreneurship, Meritocracy” by Athanasios Papandropoulos and Kostas Christidis

Wednesday, 21st October 2026, at 19:00

The Maniatakeion Foundation and Vivliopolis Bookstore present the book “Dimitris Maniatakis: Vision, Entrepreneurship, Meritocracy”, written by Athanasios Papandropoulos and Kostas Christidis.

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, 21st October 2026, at 19:00, at the Auditorium of the Kalamata Cultural Centre, 33 Aristomenous Street.

The book will be introduced by:

• His Eminence Chrysostomos III Savvatos, Metropolitan of Messinia

• Panagiotis Nikas, former Regional Governor of the Peloponnese

• Georgios Mergos, Emeritus Professor of Economics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Moderator: Stamatia-Dimitra Dimopoulou

Admission is free.

ABOUT THE BOOK AND DIMITRIS MANIATAKIS

When the authors of this book decided to document the achievements and career of an entrepreneur such as Dimitris Maniatakis, they were motivated by their conviction that a man who spent approximately 40 years working at ICAP and subsequently distinguished himself as head of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) for a period of time represents a living example of creative entrepreneurship in Greece.

His contribution, however, extends beyond his achievements in business to include his foresight and vision for the future, particularly his emphasis on the relationship between entrepreneurial activity and culture.

Dimitris Maniatakis has received numerous distinctions and awards. Among the most significant was the honour bestowed upon him in 2020 by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, who awarded him the distinction of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy) in recognition of his cultural and social contribution.

He is an Honorary Doctor of Kingston University, one of the major universities in England. He has also been honoured by the Athens University of Economics and Business for his contribution to the academic economics community and market research, as well as by New York College, which awarded him the highest distinction conferred by its Academic Council upon leading figures who have achieved international recognition in their respective fields.

The establishment of the Maniatakeion Foundation in 1995, together with its contribution to the cultural, economic and social development of his beloved birthplace, Koroni, can and should serve as an inspiration and a model for similar initiatives in other parts of the Greek countryside.

(Excerpts from the book's back-cover presentation and its contents.)

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON THE AUTHORS

Athanasios-Georgios C. Papandropoulos

Athanasios-Georgios C. Papandropoulos was born in Paleo Psychiko, Greece. He graduated in Commercial and Economic Sciences from the University Centre of Mons in Belgium and pursued further studies in journalism, communication and political philosophy at the universities of Lille and Liège.

He began his journalistic career in 1963 at Oikonomikos Tachydromos and Oikonomiko Vima. In 1978, he returned to Oikonomikos Tachydromos, where he worked until 2004. Throughout his career, he contributed to numerous Greek and international newspapers and magazines and served as the first Brussels correspondent for the Lambrakis Press Group.

He has produced more than 400 television programmes and has also worked as a radio commentator. He served as International President of the Association of European Journalists from 1992 to 1998, President of the Association of Magazine and Electronic Press Editors from 1997 to 2003, and Vice-President of the Association of Journalists of the European Parliament.

He currently collaborates with established news websites. He has authored three books independently, co-authored another three with Kostas Christidis, and contributed to three collective publications.

Kostas C. Christidis

Kostas C. Christidis is a lawyer and economist. He was born in Athens in 1946 and graduated with distinction from the Varvakeio School. He holds a law degree from the University of Athens and an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.

He practised law in Athens from 1973 to 2008 and was admitted to plead before the Supreme Court of Greece in 1983. He also served as legal and financial adviser and as a board member, vice-chairman or chairman of companies and organisations in the private and broader public sectors. In addition, he served as a special adviser to the Ministry of Finance and held senior positions in management and internal auditing.

A member of several think tanks, he has authored or co-authored nine books and published hundreds of articles on scientific, economic and social issues in daily and periodical publications. He was a regular columnist for the newspapers Estia from 2011 to 2019 and O Fileleftheros from 2019 to 2020.

He currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the European Cultural Centre of Delphi and as managing director of the non-profit civil company NEES IDEES, which is responsible for operating the website Newideas.gr.