Costas Simitis, PM of Greece 1996-2004:
The man who left a significant political legacy and put Greece in the Eurozone. He also played a critical role for the accession of Cyprus to the EU.
For me personally, he was the man responsible for my 5 ½ year tenure as CEO of the port of Piraeus (1996-2002). This has been the non-academic part -but surely an important part- of my overall professional career*.
He was not afraid to pick someone who had zero connections to the political establishment (including himself) and zero prior experience in running a port.
I am grateful for the opportunity and for his support. May he rest in peace.
* More on Piraeus when I was there can be found HERE.
