A Professional Profile of Evangelos Marinakis

Born in Piraeus, Greece, in 1967, Evangelos Marinakis is the founder of Capital Maritime & Trading Corporation, a leading name in global shipping. He also owns Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos FC, the team of his hometown, Piraeus.

As the son of Miltiadis Marinakis and Eirini Marinaki, Evangelos Marinakis’s extraordinarily successful career in the global shipping industry is true to his heritage. Born on the island of Crete, Miltiadis Marinakis was also a prominent shipowner. Evangelos Marinakis also followed his father into politics, as well as being an ardent supporter of Olympiacos FC.

Vangelis Marinakis completed his education in Greece prior to relocating to London, where he attended the American International University, graduating with BA and master’s degrees in international business administration and international relations.

Evangelos Marinakis was employed by Capital Ship Management Corporation between 1992 and 2005, working as a commercial manager and overseeing the success and expansion of many companies that today form part of the Capital Maritime group of companies.

Founding the Capital Maritime & Trading Corporation in 2005, Mr Marinakis launched a company that went on to become a leading name in international shipping. Today, Capital Maritime & Trading Corporation operates an extensive fleet of tankers, dry bulk carriers and container ships.

Between 2007 and 2014, Mr Marinakis was chairman of the board of Capital Product Partners LP. He was chairman of the board of Crude Carriers Corporation between 2010 and 2011, until the enterprise merged with Capital Product Partners LP.

Like his father before him, Evangelos Marinakis is a longtime supporter of the team of his hometown, Olympiacos FC. In 2010, he acquired a majority share in the club. Throughout his tenure as club president, Evangelos Marinakis led Olympiacos to victory with seven consecutive championship wins.

In 2014, Evangelos Marinakis ventured into politics, becoming an elected member of Piraeus City Council. Joining forces with Olympiacos FC vice president and mayor of Piraeus, Yannis Moralis, Mr Marinakis formed the ‘Piraeus Winner’ alliance, a party whose manifesto focused on improving living standards, upgrading the port city’s infrastructure and establishing it as a hub for international tourism.

In 2017, Evangelos Marinakis purchased a controlling stake in Nottingham Forest FC. He managed to secure the approval of the English Football League for his bold plans, which included an exciting redevelopment of the club’s historic grounds. Under Mr Marinakis’s visionary leadership, Nottingham Forest FC has built the largest stadium in the East Midlands in the UK, a venue featuring state-of-the-art art amenities and world-class facilities.

Throughout his career, Mr Marinakis has consistently leveraged his position as a business leader and public figure in order to achieve a positive impact. Following the financial crisis in Greece, he pledged €168,590 to the Greece Debt Free charity website with the goal of helping to eliminate the country’s national debt. In 2012, he brokered a deal that saw Olympiacos FC provide vital financing to UNICEF, enabling the charity to launch a child immunisation scheme in developing nations.

In his role with Piraeus City Council, Evangelos Marinakis has continued to use his position to drive positive change, personally financing numerous redevelopment schemes and in the process fuelling the creation of new businesses and jobs across the city.

The Capital Maritime group today operates a fleet of over 70 vessels, having established itself as a leading name in global shipping. Under Mr Marinakis’s visionary leadership, Capital Maritime & Trading Corporation has been the proud recipient of several awards for its endeavours to improve sustainability and improve the environmental impact of the shipping industry, including a GREEN4SEA Excellence Award and three Green Environmental Achievement Awards from the Port of Long Beach, South Carolina.