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Greek oil executive Kyriakos Mamidakis passed away last week at the age of 84. We take a look into his life and achievements during his long career.

Early life

Mamidakis was born in February 1932 to Alexandros and Eirini Mamidakis. His childhood was spent in Anoskeli, a small village in the Kissamos area of Chania, Greece. The Mamidakis family owned land in Anoskeli and ran a family-owned vineyard and olive oil business. It's said that Mamidakis loved his hometown and returned as often as possible to stay in the area, even into the latter years of his life.

In 1951, he graduated from Maritime Trade School. Shortly after, in 1952, he began working with his uncle G.I. Mamidakis in the oil trade business. This helped him gain oil industry experience which he later used while running his own oil and gas company.

Mamidakis Brothers Group

Kyriakos Mamidakis and his two brothers, Giorgos and Nikos, conducted business together from early on. The three brothers founded the Mamadakis Brothers Group in 1969, a parent company that would later hold subsidiaries in a wide variety of industries. They began in the oil and gas industry with the companies Mamidoil S.A. and Jetoil S.A., founded in 1969 and 1970 respectively. Mamidoil-Jetoil S.A. was later established in 1974.

Today, Mamidakis Brothers Group owns subsidiaries in oil and gas, shipping, hotels and tourism, wineries, and olive oil. The company is based in Kifisia, northern Athens.

Over the years, the Jetoil brand has expanded to become a leading provider of oil and gas products in south-east Europe, including a network of around 600 petrol stations in Greece. JetOil Bunkering is Mamidoil-Jetoil's marine fuels business and is the largest privately owned supplier of marine bunker fuels in Greece.

Other business ventures

Another notable business owned and operated by Kyriakos Mamidakis is the Anoskeli winery in his hometown of Anoskeli. In 1983, the Mamidakis Brothers Group founded a subsidiary called Anoskeli Agricultural Company which oversees the winery and olive oil production at this family-owned property.

Anoskeli olive oil has also won awards throughout its lifetime, including a recent silver medal at the New York International Olive Oil Competition. Wine produced in the vineyard is branded 'Ano Playa'. The winery runs a small operation that produces about 13,000 bottles per year.

Personal recognition

During his career, Kyriakos Mamidakis was recognized for his contribution to business and society, and for his ethical business practices.

In 2011, he received the Lloyd's List/Propeller Club Lifetime Achievement Award. Last year, Mamidoil-Jetoil was awarded a silver distinction in the category 'Big Businesses/Society' during the Hellenic Responsible Business Awards for its program 'Voithas? Eisai JET' - an initiative that was set up to raise money for 'Mazi yia to Paidi' Society (Together for the Children).

Community and environment

Mamidoil-Jetoil says on its website that its mission is "to offer the best possible to everyone who is directly or indirectly affected by its operation... based on three pillars: people, society and the environment".

In the community, the company has supported a range of programmes and initiatives including the "White Taxi" of the Pan-Hellenic Paraplegic Association, The Home of Special Occupational Education, Samos Retirement Home, The HOPE Foundation, A Child's Smile, The Child's Friends Association, and The Hellenic Association for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Handicapped Children.

Mamidoil-Jetoil has implemented a number of programmes related to the environment. It has also published its 'Corporate Social Responsibility Report', in which the company describes its initiatives, programmes and commitment towards human resources, the market, society and the environment.