Born in the historic port city of Piraeus, Greece, on 30th July 1967, Evangelos Marinakis is probably best known as chairman of the Capital Maritime & Trading Corporation, a group of companies he built from the ground up, expanding its commercial interests considerably over the years. Mr Marinikis also owns controlling interests in two football teams, namely Nottingham Forest in England and Olympiacos FC, the team of his home city. He is also a member of Piraeus City Council, working tirelessly in this role to improve the living standards of local people.
Evangelos Marinakis studied in the United Kingdom after completing his high school education in Piraeus. Graduating from the American International University in London, he earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, in International Business Administration and International Relations respectively.
Evangelos Marinakis followed in the footsteps of his father, Miltiadis Marinakis, embarking on a career in the global shipping industry after graduating. Evangelos Marinakis’s mother, Irini Marinaki, is a descendant of the prestigious Yspilantis family.
Working as a commercial manager for Capital Ship Management Corporation, Evangelos Marinakis helped to ensure the growth and success of many businesses that today form part of the Capital Maritime Group. Founding the Capital Maritime & Trading Corporation in 2005, he grew an empire of businesses over the years, today managing a fleet of dry bulk carriers, tankers and container ships, as well as various other subsidiaries operating in a diverse array of industries.
Serving as chairman of the board of Capital Product Partners LP from 2007 to 2014, Mr Marinakis also founded the Crude Carriers Corporation, overseeing the merger of the two companies in September 2011.
Evangelos Marinakis is a life-long supporter of Olympiacos FC, the team of his home city, Piraeus. He acquired a controlling interest in Olympiacos Football Club in 2010. Throughout his tenure as club president, he led the team to an astounding seven consecutive championship wins.
Evangelos Marinakis purchased a controlling interest in Nottingham Forest Football Club in 2017. He secured the approval of the English Football League for his far-reaching plans, designed to restore the team to its former glory. Mr Marinakis’s vision for the club included extensive redevelopment of the team’s historic home ground, resulting in the creation of a world-class facility that today ranks as the largest football stadium in the East Midlands.
Mr Marinakis took up his seat on Piraeus city council in 2014, having led the Piraeus Winner alliance to a historic victory in local elections. Mr Marinakis co-founded the independent party with Yannis Moralis, the mayor of Piraeus and vice president of Olympiacos Football Club. The alliance’s manifesto centred around improving living standards for local people, upgrading local infrastructure and enabling the city to take its rightful place as a thriving Mediterranean tourist hub.
In addition to presiding over the Capital Maritime & Trading Corporation and continuing to lead Capital Product Partners LP following its merger with the Crude Carriers Corporation, Evangelos Marinakis also served on the board of a host of other prominent companies. He is the owner of One Channel and Abisso Holdings Limited.
Having consistently leveraged his position as an entrepreneur, business leader and public figure to achieve a positive impact on society, Evangelos Marinakis has used his personal wealth to fund redevelopment schemes across Piraeus. He has also provided financial support for initiatives designed to boost employment across the city and through the creation of new businesses. A committed philanthropist, he pledged €168,590 to ‘Greek Debt Free’ on behalf of Olympiacos FC, providing vital funding for the charity website created with the mission of eliminating Greece’s national debt. In 2023, Mr Marinakis was the proud recipient of ‘The 20 Years Achievement Award’ at the Llyod’s List Greek Shipping Awards.
