The Karatzis Group won two major awards at the end of 2016, both of which were the culmination of a very productive and creative year.
On Wednesday 30 November 2016 the Karatzis Group received the ‘Award for Performance in the International Economics Arena’ as part of the Kouros Awards 2016
which were organised for the 22nd year by the Hellenic Association for Entrepreneurship. Representatives from the political and business world attended the event which took place in a central Athens hotel and the award was bestowed on Antonis Karatzis, President and Managing Director of Karatzis S.A. by the Minister of Administrative Reconstruction, Ms.Olga Gerovasili. During his speech at the awards presentation the President of the Hellenic Association for Entrepreneurship, Mr Konstandinos Euripidis, mentioned the importance of growth and extroversion for Greek businesses in the difficult economic climate as “the basis for modern and robust national productivity”.
On the following Thursday December 1, 2016, the Karatzis Group excelled at the ‘Growth Awards’, the firsts award for excellence in business which was organised for the first time by Eurobank and Grant Thornton. In line with the above awards, which are aimed at recognising competitive and dynamic Greek companies, the Karatzis Group ex-celled in the category of ‘Market Growth’ and the President and Managing Director Antonis Karatzis received the accolade from the former Director of the Bank of Greece, Mr. Giorgos Provopoulos and the President and Managing Director of Navios Maritime Holdings Inc., Ms. Aggeliki Frankou. More than 2,500 representatives from the business sector and the Greek political scene were present at the event which took place at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall to honour the award winners as well as all participants in a fruitful dialogue on the future of Greek entrepreneurship and about the next steps to promote it abroad. The ceremony was addressed by the Government Vice-President Giannis Dragasakis, Leader of the Opposition Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, with the keynote speaker Bob Rosen, an internationally recognised business consultant, who analysed the characteristics of a leader in the business sector amidst a time of economic crisis. Also speaking were the Chairman of the Board of Eurobank, Mr. Nicholas Karamouzis, its CEO Mr. Fokion Karavias and CEO of Grant Thornton Mr. Vasilis Kazas, who talked about the philosophy of the Growth Awards.
These two distinctions reward the dynamism and contribution of Karatzis Group in boost-ing the Greek market especially during the crisis, their innovative strategy, extroversion and investment policy in new business directions. At the same time, however, they in-tensify the Group’s feeling of responsibility for even better performance through new ventures that will strengthen its position in the global market and therefore the Greek economy.
Antonis Karatzis, President and CEO of Karatzis S.A. stated: “These two distinctions are a great honour for the Karatzis Group since they reward and recognise its character. In its 40 plus years of existence the Karatzis Group never fails to meet the needs and challenges of the times by expanding its business and carefully developing its investment plan. The effort is collective which is why both distinctions belong to all who make up the Karatzis Group, executives and employees, whom I would like to thank for their dedication and constant effort. In closing, I would like to dedicate these awards to the Group’s founder, Miltiades Karatzis who, although absent, continues to inspire us. His vision is still alive and is the driving force for a better future”.