Early Life
Athanasios (Thanasis) Martinos was born in Athens, Greece, in February 1950. His family's background was in the antiques trade before entering the shipping industry. He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Athens (1974) and studied shipping at City College of London (1968-1969).
Rise to Success
Martinos began his career in the family shipping business, Thenamaris, in 1971. He left Thenamaris in 1990 and founded Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (Eastmed) in 1991. Under his leadership, Eastmed has grown into a significant player in the shipping industry, with a fleet of tankers, bulk carriers, and container vessels. He also owns a Cyprus-based real estate investment firm.
Key Business Strategies
Martinos's business strategies appear to focus on fleet management, strategic acquisition of modern vessels, and an active presence in the sale and purchase market. His company has been involved in new building projects.
Philanthropy
Martinos and his wife, Marina, are known for their philanthropic work through the Athanasios and Marina Martinos Foundation. Their initiatives include supporting healthcare, education, and religious institutions. Notably, they established the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital in memory of his daughter, Athinoula, who died in 1997.