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Trade with Greece
65
Self-made Businessman Award
COSTAS V. KESSARIS
Costas Kessaris was born in Athens and studied at the
Economic University of Piraeus, with a vision to enter the
Diplomatic corps of the Ministry of Commerce, since he had an
aptitude to foreign languages and public relations. During his
studies he got involved in silk production, but, owing to the cir-
cumstances, he had to change course.
He passed the exams at the National Bank of Greece, and
after a 17-day career he renounced his bank employee status.
In 1965, equipped with a small capital and the wish of his father,
a doctor, he started working with his mother's brothers, the
Vouraki Bros, in the creation and wholesaling of jewellery, while
in 1969 he set up his own company.
Being ambitious, keen to prove his worth, and farsighted, he
turned toward retail trade, international partnerships and outlet
chains. The clever strategy and proper management of the
company, combined with the high quality and variety of design,
led to success.
In 1982, the KESSARIS house was relocated to the corner of
Panepistimiou and Voukourestiou Streets, and in 1992 started
collaborating with BVLGARI. In 2000, Mr. Kessaris established
ORA KESSARIS, a wholesaler and retailer of watches from
world-leading houses. Today, the KESSARIS firm owns –apart
from its three stores in the centre of Athens– stores in
Mykonos, Kifissia, the Athens's Hilton, the Golden Hall mall,
and the Costa Navarino tourist resort.
Mr. Kessaris says that creation belongs in another realm, which
helps you always be vigilant and move to new worlds. As he
says, the qualities of a good entrepreneur are persistence, hon-
esty and good relations with others, while the philosophy of his
company is always focused on smiling and being in a good
mood.The plans that he has not yet materialized keep him
alert, while his joy in life is being surrounded by his children and
grand-children. He is proud of being a Greek, and loves his
country.
KESSARIS
Costas V. Kessaris, President of the Group
Business and Tradition Award
ELEFTHERIOS I. KOURTALIS
The involvement of the Ioannis Kourtalis family with
the textile industry began in Chalkis, shortly after 1880,
in the form of a cottage industry with wooden looms.
In 1887, according to the official records of the PCCI,
the family established a textile factory in Piraeus, at
number 6 Kastoros street and Etolikou Street.
The sons of the company's founder, Konstantinos and
Eleftherios Kourtalis, remained in the textile sector till
1941, when the factory's operation was disrupted,
owing to the Nazi occupation. Two very characteristic
mementos from that time are an invoice issued in 1906
by Eleftherios I Kourtalis under the brand-name
“MALTA canvas mill” and an invoice issued in 1913,
bearing the inscription “Cotton Mill and stocking-yarn factory”. The company was registered with the PCCI under No. 273, and
with its registered seat at number 6 Kastoros and Etolikou streets.
In 1918, Konstantinos Kourtalis was one of the founding members of the “Association of Textile Industrialists of Athens-Piraeus-
Syros-Livadeia and Stylis”, according to the minutes of a meeting held on 21/12/1918. This association evolved into the
Association of Hellenic Textile Industries, whose president is Eleftherios I. Kourtalis.
In 1945, Konstantinos I. Kourtalis and Ioannis E. Kourtalis (uncle and nephew) formed a limited partnership, based in the restored
–following the damage caused by wartime bombings– buildings of number 6 Kastoros and Etolikou streets (the company's reg-
istration number with the PCCI was 9080/1946 and its purpose was the industrial production of yarns and textiles).
In 1947, Ioannis E. Kourtalis established a sole proprietorship, and constructed a yarn and textile production factory on an owned
site in Keratsini .In 1966, this sole proprietorship of I. E. Kourtalis was converted to a company, with the participation of his chil-
dren, under the name “Kourtalis Textile Industry Ltd” (PCCI Reg. No. 12668/66), and a new, fully modernized and vertically inte-
grated factory was constructed in Aghios Ioannis Rentis. In 1968, Eleftherios I. Kourtalis (the fourth generation!), apart from par-
ticipating in the family business, also established a sole proprietorship for the production and distribution of textiles and yarns, and
constructed an owned textile factory at Inophita, Viotia (Ministry of Industry License No. 83004/68).
Today, the sole proprietorship has been converted to a société anonyme, with the name “ELEFTHERIOS I KOURTALIS” and the
brand name “IOROZAN”, with the participation of the three children of the family, Ioannis, Rosita, and Andrianna.
ELEFTHERIOS I.
KOURTALIS SA
Eleftherios
Kourtalis, President
& Managing
Director