George Α. Vernicos
Born in 1950 in Athens. He comes from a shipping family from Sifnos, which began its business activities—mainly in tugboats and salvage operations—in the mid-19th century in Constantinople, relocating to Piraeus in the 1920s. His mother, Marina Kanaki, originated from Heraklion, Crete. He is married to Ourania Zerdeva. Studied Economics at the Universities of Athens and London.
George A. Vernicos has an extensive entrepreneurial and social presence. His professional activities primarily focus on the development of maritime tourism.
He is a member of numerous Organizations and Chambers.
President of VERNICOS YACHTS, a company founded in 1975 that has been a pioneer in Greek maritime tourism.
President of VERINA, a company specializing in small hotels in Sifnos.
Secretary General of the GREEK TOURISM CONFEDERATION (SETE) and President of the SETE Institute (INSETE).
Member of the Board of the HELLENIC PROFESSIONAL YACHT OWNERS ASSOCIATION (Honorary President) and Honorary Board Member of the HELLENIC CHAMBER OF SHIPPING.
Honorary President of the Greek Office of GREENPEACE.
Served as President of the ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE OF GREECE (October 2015 – February 2021).
Since October 2020, he has represented the tourism sector in the EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE.
He is also an Ambassador for the EUROPEAN CLIMATE PACT of the European Union.
Served as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy (June 21, 2012 – July 30, 2012).
Brief history
At a young age, he played a significant role in strengthening democracy by participating in the anti-dictatorial struggle as a leading figure in the student movement and serving as the Secretary General of the Greekeuropean Movement of Youth. He was imprisoned and tortured. For his actions, he has been honored by the Hellenic Parliament.
In the 1980s he was elected Municipal Councilor and Deputy Mayor of Athens. He also served as President of the “Welfare Foundation G. & A. Hatzikonsta”. Additionally, he has been a board member of the “Greek National Tourism Organization”, the “National Tourism Council” and the “Athens Tourism & Economic Development Company”. He has participated in the administration of public sector enterprises, including the “Public Material Management Organization” and the “Business Reconstruction Organization”.
He has been President and a board member of several companies in the fields of tourism, shipping, aviation, marinas, certification and investment and insurance activities. Companies he has been involved with include: Nicolas E. Vernicos Shipping S.A., Hellenic Register of Shipping, Ethniki Insurance, Apollonies Aktes, Athens Marina, Delos Marinas, Porto Heli Hotel & Marina, Viking Star Cruises, Ver-Sifnos, Veravia, Piraiki ANE, Free Holdings S.A., Sunsail, Versun.
He was also a co-founder and the first President of ATTICA GROUP, which contributed significantly to the modernization of the Greek coastal shipping fleet through pioneering initiatives. Additionally, he was a founding shareholder of DOLPHIN CAPITAL, one of the most significant investment groups in the luxury resort sector.
He is a founding member of GREEK TOURISM CONFEDERATION(SETE) and has continuously served on its board since 1992.
He has also been a member and board member of numerous Organizations and Chambers focused on the business, cultural and social development of Greece, as well as the protection of citizens’ rights, the environment, democracy, and European integration.
In 1990 he co-founded the Greek Office of GREENPEACE, serving as its President until June 2012. He currently holds the title of Honorary President.
He is a founding member of the KYKLOS IDEON for National Reconstruction.
In 2003 he published the book “When We Wanted to Change Greece” (Kastaniotis Editions), which narrates the youth struggle for dignity, freedom, and democracy during the dictatorship. In 2017 he published “Designing the Future: Democracy and Development in Difficult Times”. He has also edited publications on key issues, such as “Human Flows in Greece and Europe Today” (2017) and “The World of Work: Global Challenges and Prospects” (2019).
He has contributed articles to newspapers such as Kathimerini, To Vima, Ta Nea, Avgi, Eleftherotypia, and Proto Thema, as well as to magazines covering yachting, tourism, and shipping.
Beyond his professional and social engagements, George Vernicos is a passionate sailor and traveler. He has traveled to all continents, visiting most regions and countries around the world (176 countries).
Selected companies
