The Onassis Foundation presented the “History of Onassis Businesses 1924-1975”, a special book published by the University Press of Crete that records with scientific accuracy the business journey of Aristotle Onassis, on the Central Stage of the Roof, on Monday, October 9.
The attendees – among them the important representatives of the scientific, business and journalistic life of the country – were informed about the volume, which was created after a commission from the Onassis Foundation to the Center for Maritime History of the Institute of Mediterranean Studies of the ITE and to a multitude of researchers under the direction of the historian , professor at the University of Crete and director at the Institute of Mediterranean Studies of the Technology and Research Foundation, Tzelinas Harlautis.
The coordination of the event was undertaken by Alexis Papachelas, while the following spoke: Antonis S. Papadimitriou, President of the Onassis Foundation, Dzelina Harlautis, Professor of Maritime History at the University of Crete and Director of the Institute of Mediterranean Studies of the Technology and Research Foundation, Costas Grammenos, Professor of Maritime, of Commerce & Finance and President of the “Kostas Grammenos” Center for Shipping, Commerce & Finance at the Bayes Business School of the City University of London, Peter G. Livanos, Ioannis Theotokas, Professor of Maritime Business Administration and President of the Department of Maritime Studies at the University of Piraeus.
A publication on the work and business activity of Aristotle Onassis
The book is based on the Onassis Archive and captures in the most authoritative and thorough way the fifty-year operation of a multinational business group created by the most famous shipowner of the 20th century, with companies on 3 continents and 14 countries and activities all over the planet.
Above all, it is an emblematic work that aspires to map the multifaceted financial activity of Aristotle Onassis: from shipping to Olympic Aviation, the Olympic Tower in New York and many other investments.
The aim of the volume is to comprehensively cover the business activity of Onassis in trade, shipping, air transport, shipbuilding and oil industry and financial activities through his collaborations and conflicts with economic and political establishments in Europe and America. Above all, the book shows how Aristotle Onassis created the shipping business of the new globalized era, which operates institutionally to this day following the standards he set.
Antonis S. Papadimitriou said about the publication: “There are many pages in this book. But trust me, it’s not a pain to read. Because Onassis, however we do it, was fascinating. It was his own vision that made him organize a shipbuilding business from nowhere, in an unprecedented regulatory framework, taking advantage of new financing techniques that he himself set up, in new ships that were successive achievements of innovation and built by shipyards literally bombed. This is how a localized Greek shipping culture transformed into a corporate culture of a global business group. It was his human nature that made his associates good friends for decades, even after his death. Even today, our people are proud to work on Onassis’ ships, or to have worked at Olympiaki during Onassis’ time. I would like to warmly thank Jelina Harlautis who enthusiastically responded to our call. Amalia Pappa who directed the entire archival program. Their team and their partners. All those who with their testimony helped to preserve this memory”.
Mrs. Jelina Harlautis stated: “Aristotelis Onassis was one of the first truly international businessmen, the one who created the model of the global shipping business with his work. Through this particular book I want to highlight the importance of Greek entrepreneurship. We have great entrepreneurship but we have demonized entrepreneurs. But without entrepreneurs there is no economy. I hope that this work will be an example to follow for the course and development of mainly shipping companies in Greece”.
Mr. Costas Grammenos stated: “Aristotelis Onassis, a creator par excellence, built an international empire, with genius decisions and expected or non-commercial moves. With his will he established the Alexandros Onassis Public Benefit Foundation which was created in 1975. The amount given for its establishment has increased 11 times to date. During this period, the Foundation additionally paid the full amount of the original valuation, for the realization of projects. I have the impression that Aristotle Onassis would smile faintly upon hearing these numbers.”
Mr. Ioannis Theotokas stated: “From the analysis of the book, the main characteristic of Aristotle Onassis emerges with fullness: He was a businessman-leader of the global shipping market who was not entrenched in contexts, either national or business. Throughout his career he was looking for new ways. As an entrepreneur, he went beyond the frameworks that limited his action, constantly going beyond. He pursued it even if it meant conflict and risk. He set a standard that remains strong to this day.”
Mr. Peter G. Livanos stated: “Part of Onassis’ success was his ability to use his character, personality and thinking to succeed in different fields. He dared to take risks, but he also knew how to keep the balance. We owe a lot both to him for the legacy he left us, and to the people who continue his work today, with integrity.”
The book “History of Onassis Businesses 1924-1975” is available in all bookstores from the University Press of Crete.
About the Onassis Archive
The Onassis Archive, an initiative of the Onassis Foundation, consists of hundreds of archival boxes that contain tens of thousands of documents from Aristotle Onassis’s fifty-year business activity as well as many of those that followed. The Archive captures the operation of a multinational business group, with companies on three continents (Europe, Asia, America) and 14 countries (Greece, France, Monaco, Germany, Norway, Sweden, England, Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, Honduras, United States , Saudi Arabia and Liberia) and activities all over the planet; its composition and classification are an innovation in the field of Business History not only in Greece but also internationally.
The organization, cataloging and classification of the Onassis Archive as well as the writing of the history of the Onassis companies is the product of a research project commissioned by the Onassis Foundation to the Center for Maritime History of the Institute of Mediterranean Studies of the ITE, and is the product of the collaboration of a number of researchers under the direction of Mr. Jelinas Charlautis.
Source :Skai
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