Pavlos Giannakopoulos
Pavlos D. Giannakopoulos | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Greece |
| Died | June 10, 2018 (aged 88) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, sports executive |
| Known for | Ownership and presidency of Panathinaikos B.C. and Panathinaikos AC; control of pharmaceutical company Vianex |
Pavlos D. Giannakopoulos (Greek: Παύλος Δ. Γιαννακόπουλος; 20 August 1929 – 10 June 2018) was a prominent Greek entrepreneur who held ownership and the presidency of Panathinaikos B.C. as well as serving as president of Panathinaikos AC.
In December 2020, his son Dimitris established the Pavlos Giannakopoulos Foundations, an initiative dedicated to promoting sportsmanship, healthcare, education, cultural activities, environmental consciousness, and sustainable progress.
Vianex
Pavlos, alongside his brother Thanasis Giannakopoulos, controlled the leading Greek pharmaceutical company Vianex, originally founded in 1924 by their father Dimitrios Giannakopoulos as a modest import and distribution enterprise. Today, Vianex produces and distributes a wide range of products both within Greece and internationally, partnering with major global corporations. The firm recorded net revenues amounting to €240.2 million in 2012.
Panathinaikos Athens
The Giannakopoulos siblings oversaw the management of Panathinaikos's basketball, volleyball, and amateur sports divisions from 1987 until 2012. Their most notable achievements were with the basketball squad, where Pavlos held the position of President from 1987 to 2000 and later shared leadership with his brother between 2003 and 2012.
By the year 2012, Panathinaikos had secured 13 out of the previous 15 Greek Basket League titles (excluding the seasons 2001–02 and 2011–12), alongside six EuroLeague championships (in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011). The team featured elite Greek athletes as well as international stars including former NBA players Dominique Wilkins and Byron Scott, plus European luminaries such as Dejan Bodiroga and Panagiotis Giannakis.
In 2009, the basketball department's budget was estimated at €35 million. Pavlos and Thanasis were honored with the EuroLeague Club Executive of the Year Award in 2011. Control of Panathinaikos B.C. transitioned to Pavlos' son Dimitris Giannakopoulos in 2012.
To commemorate his impact, the indoor arena at Leoforos Alexandras Stadium was renamed "Pavlos Giannakopoulos" in 2015. Furthermore, in 2024 a statue of Pavlos was unveiled at the VIP entrance of OAKA by Panathinaikos B.C.
Death
Giannakopoulos passed away at age 88 on 10 June 2018, marking the 47th anniversary since his initial engagement with Panathinaikos and shortly following his son's appointment as president of Panathinaikos A.C.
External links
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- 1929 births
- 2018 deaths
- Greek businesspeople
- Greek philanthropists
- Panathinaikos A.O.
- Panathinaikos B.C.
- Panathinaikos B.C. presidents
- Panathinaikos A.O. presidents
- Panathinaikos F.C.
- Panathinaikos F.C. non-playing staff
- Greek football chairmen and investors
- Greek basketball chairmen and investors
- Greek billionaires
- Businesspeople from Athens
- 20th-century philanthropists
- 20th-century Greek philanthropists
- Greek basketball executives and administrators