Early Life and Education
Spiro J. Latsis was born in Athens, Greece, in 1946. He is the son of Yiannis Latsis, a prominent Greek shipping magnate. He received his early education in Greece before moving to the United Kingdom to attend the London School of Economics (LSE). Latsis obtained a Bachelor of Arts/Economics in 1968, a Master's in logic and scientific method in 1970 and a Ph.D. in philosophy in 1974, all from the LSE.
Rise to Success
Latsis joined the family business, initially in the banking arm. He became a director of some companies within the EFG Group, the family banking Holding Group, from 1989 and assumed the role of Chairman of the EFG Group in 1997. After his father's death in 2003, he took over the direction of the Latsis Group of companies.
Key Business Strategies
The Latsis family's largest holding is EFG Bank European Financial Group in Luxembourg, a private banking group that operates in many jurisdictions. The Group holds over 40% of EFG International listed in Switzerland on the Zurich Stock Exchange, a global private banking group offering private banking and asset management services. The Latsis family fortune also includes more than 42% in Hellenic Petroleum.
Philanthropy
Spiro Latsis supports philanthropic efforts through the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation and the International Latsis Foundation, funding programs in education, scientific research, social welfare, and culture.