Athens, November 26, 2024
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Vasilis Economou, Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis, Metropolitan of Syros Dorotheos II, President of ONEX Panos Xenokostas
In a glittering evening, dedicated to its path of success and its milestones, ONEX Group celebrated its 20th anniversary. 20 years full of firsts and innovations. The event, which took place at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, was full of glamour, smiles and distinguished guests from the political, shipping and business communities, who honored the Group with their presence, but also personally its President, Panos Xenokostas, the inspirer of ONEX’s success story.
In a retrospective of the company’s history from 2004 to the present, the presenter of the event, Ms. Katerina Tsamouri, revealed that it all started in a friends’ garage, in October 2004, and a “crazy” idea by Mr. Xenokostas. He wanted, as he himself said, to do something that would put people at the center and would have efficiency at its core.
ONEX today can be proud of having accomplished everything it undertook, even the “impossible” for many project of reviving the Greek shipbuilding industry.
Panos Xenokostas, President of ONEX
The vision of creating an organization based on the principles of meritocracy and equality took shape, with ONEX having today evolved into a powerful Group, which managed to implement the largest rescue and revival of the shipbuilding industry in modern Europe, within a period of just five years, while recording a historical milestone, as the first Group worldwide to secure financing from the American Development Bank (DFC).
The Group, inspired and created by Mr. Panos Xenokostas, revived an industry that was considered “lost” by many, bringing the Greek shipbuilding industry back to the forefront of international shipping, and making Greece a reference point for shipbuilding innovation in the wider Mediterranean region.
As the President himself mentioned, in its first year of operation, the Group’s turnover was 130,000 euros. 20 years later, according to the report so far for 2024, it has skyrocketed to 168,000,000 euros.
Konstantinos Floros, Honorary Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, Metropolitan of Syros Dorotheos II, Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis, Niki Kerameus, Minister of Labor and Social Security, Minister of Development Takis Theodorikakos
The anniversary event was honored with their presence by the Ministers of Development and Health, Mr. Takis Theodorikakos and Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Ms. Niki Kerameus, His Eminence Metropolitan of Syros, Mr. Dorotheos II, the Secretary General of Shipping and Ports, Mr. Evangelos Kyriazopoulos, the Vice President of the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Konstantinos Achladitis, as well as a number of Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and Secretaries General.
Minister of Development, Takis Theodorikakos
The Minister of Development, Mr. Takis Theodorikakos, in the context of the event, spoke about the need to change the country’s production model, at the center of which is the blue economy. As he announced, there will be changes in the legislation and the blue economy sector will be included in Greece’s strategic investments for further financing beyond the Recovery Fund.
- Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis
As the Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, characteristically emphasized: «
«When I took over as Minister of Development, I took over from the previous Government three “cemetery” Shipyards, of Syros, Elefsina and Skaramangas. There was a consolidation plan, but it had reached a Gordian knot and the withdrawal of ONEX was almost certain. They felt a great obligation to find a solution and I set it as my personal bet to achieve it. I want you to believe me, there has been no more difficult undertaking than this in my career. The problems we had to face and solve in order to achieve this result were immense and infinite. To reach this small miracle is like a puzzle rolling and all the pieces finally fell into place. Today as we speak, all three of these shipyards are working at full speed, contributing greatly to the national economy. None of this would have become a reality if it were not for Mr. Xenokostas and his family who have done incredible good in Greece [..]”
His Eminence Metropolitan of Syros, Dorotheos II, stated: “The five-year-old reopening of the historic and emblematic Neorion Shipyards for the island and their transfer to the ONEX company of the Greek-American businessman Mr. Panos Xenokostas marked a “new era” in our country’s shipbuilding and repair industry, but also the beginning of what appears to be a galloping Greek-American cooperation in this sector […]”.
Secretary General of Shipping and Ports, Mr. Evangelos Kyriazopoulos
The Secretary General of Shipping and Ports, Mr. Evangelos Kyriazopoulos, said at the podium: “Over the last 5 years, shipbuilding and repair work has increased throughout the country. From approximately 10,000 permits we used to issue for these works, this year we have reached close to 28,000. So the Syros Shipyards have an increase of around 15% and the Eleusis Shipyards close to 81-85%. After 30 years of hypnosis in shipbuilding and repair activity in the country, Mr. Xenokostas managed to change all this.” A special moment of the event was the reading, by the Chief of Finance of the US Embassy, Mr. Timothy McNally, of a personal message from the US Ambassador to Greece, Mr. George J. Tsunis, where I was featured, stated: “The United States and Greece have a long history of cooperation, from the transfer of Liberty ships after World War II to today’s efforts to revitalize Greece’s shipyards and promote energy security. ONEX’s efforts exemplify the power of U.S.-Greece cooperation, and I am proud of the role the Group plays in positioning Greece for a prosperous and sustainable future.”
Head of Finance of the US Embassy, Timothy McNally
Following the speeches, Mr. Panos Xenokostas proceeded with a gesture of gratitude, awarding the company’s oldest employees, recognizing and honoring the contribution of all to the organization’s successful course, with the individuals themselves unable to hide their emotion and joy.
It is noted that, after 20 years of active presence in Greek events, the ONEX Group currently employs, directly and indirectly, more than 3,700 employees, while in 2004, at the beginning of this exciting journey, it had only 5.
The event concluded with a cocktail party and lunch.
