• John Papanikolaou is an economist who graduated with distinction from the School of Economics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the London School of Economics (LSE), ranking first in his examinations.
• As the originator of the vision behind Komvos and the first Chairman of its Board of Directors during the challenging initial period of its establishment, he is one of its three Honorary Presidents. The other two are former President of the Hellenic Republic and Member of the Academy of Athens Prokopis Pavlopoulos, and former Prime Minister, Member of the Academy of Athens and Komvos Fellow Lucas Papademos.
• Over the past twenty years, he has worked as an economic adviser in Greece and internationally, specialising in strategic planning, including strategy development and implementation. He has also served on numerous boards of major companies and banks.
• More recently, his work has also focused on Greece’s geostrategic use of its broader maritime sector — shipping, shipyards and ports — and energy sector as sources of regional influence, with particular emphasis on energy infrastructure, including pipelines, Revithoussa, the Vertical Corridor and the Alexandroupolis Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU).
• He has served as Director General of the International Centre for Black Sea Studies, Alternate Governor for Greece at the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, and a member of the first Governing Committee of the University of Thessaly. In 1981, following a relatively brief academic career at Queen Mary College, University of London, and the LSE, he became Director of the Economic Office and Economic Adviser to then Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou (1981–1987). He subsequently served as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers at the Ministry of National Economy. He has also served as Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Economic Diplomacy.
• In recognition of his contribution to strengthening their countries’ bilateral relations with Greece, the governments of Germany, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Syria and Mexico have awarded him their highest state honours.
• He has also received distinguished honorary academic titles and awards from internationally renowned academic institutions.
