Vardis Vardinogiannis, a towering figure in Greek shipping, energy, and business, has passed away at the age of 91. His death, which occurred on Tuesday, November 12, was confirmed by Motor Oil Hellas, the oil company that Vardinogiannis transformed into one of Greece’s largest and most influential corporations.
In a statement issued by his family, they expressed, “With deep sadness, the Vardis Vardinogiannis family announces that the beloved father and grandfather, Vardis I. Vardinogiannis, passed away today, Tuesday, November 12, 2024.”
Vardinogiannis was born in 1933 on Crete, the fifth of eight children. After graduating from the Hellenic Naval Academy in 1955, he served as a Navy officer before being exiled by the military junta in the 1960s. He later became an honorary admiral.
In the early 1970s, he took over the family business, Motor Oil Hellas, after his brother’s sudden death. Over the next five decades, Vardinogiannis expanded the company into one of Greece’s largest corporations and diversified into shipping, banking, media, and hospitality. His partnership with Saudi oil giant Aramco in the 1990s further bolstered his influence.
Vardinogiannis was also a philanthropist, supporting various causes, including the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation. His wife, Marianna, who passed away in 2023, was a UNESCO goodwill ambassador and led children’s cancer initiatives.
In 1990, Vardinogiannis survived an assassination attempt by the militant group November 17, which targeted his armoured car with explosives. He later became closely connected to the Kennedy family, hosting the wedding of Robert F. Kennedy’s daughter, Rory, in Greece in 1999.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid tribute, saying, “I bid farewell to Vardis Vardinogiannis – the patriarch of a family that has left an indelible mark on the economic and social landscape of our country over the past decades.”
“Behind his always serious gaze, he concealed many facets: from boldness and dynamism in business competition to countless charitable initiatives, many of which he preferred to keep anonymous,” he added.
Vardinogiannis is survived by his five children, though funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Source: ABC News.
