Endeavor Launches a New Country Affiliate in Greece Focused on High-Impact Entrepreneurship

ATHENS, Greece--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the midst of continuing economic turmoil in Greece, Endeavor announced today that it launches a new affiliate office in Athens, bringing its high-impact entrepreneurship model to Europe for the first time.

“The crisis has unleashed a new wave of entrepreneurship. Thousands of young people are no longer content with accepting a civil service job but are keen to develop their entrepreneurial ideas. Endeavor can become a catalyst to this process and thus have a substantial impact on a society in transition.”

“I have always believed that some of the best entrepreneurs emerge in times of chaos,” said Endeavor co-founder and CEO Linda Rottenberg. “Greece is an extremely resource- and culture-rich country. There are huge opportunities for entrepreneurs, both in traditional industries like food and agriculture and in emerging sectors like biotech. We look forward to working with Greece’s High-Impact Entrepreneurs.”

Founded in 1997, Endeavor selects and supports high-impact entrepreneurs who have the potential to scale from promising SMEs into companies that create hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs and generate significant revenues. In the past 15 years Endeavor has selected 708 high-impact entrepreneurs from 12 countries around the world in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, and Southeast Asia. In 2011, these entrepreneurs generated US $5.0BN in revenue and had created 200,000 jobs.

All Endeavor affiliates are spearheaded by a local Board of leading business persons, each of whom believes that high-impact entrepreneurship can transform economies. With unemployment in Greece at a staggering 23%, the new Board Members of Endeavor Greece firmly believe that despite the country’s current economic challenges, Endeavor will help create opportunities and spur entrepreneurial activity.

The Endeavor Greece Board will be chaired by Michael D. Chandris, Chairman, Chandris Group; and vice-chaired by Mareva Grabowski, Head of Emerging Markets, Dara Capital, who is also the founder of the Greek affiliate. They will be joined on the Board by Marily Frangista, Managing Director, Franco Compania Naviera; Thodoris Kyriakou, Group CEO, Antenna Group; Johanna Papadopoulou, President & Managing Director, E.J. Papadopoulos S.A.; Dimitrios Papalexopoulos, Managing Director, Titan S.A.; Yiannis Stassinopoulos, Viochalco S.A.; Spyros Theodoropoulos, Managing Director, Chipita S.A.; Takis Theoharakis, Deputy CEO & Vice President, Nissan N.I. Theoharakis S.A.; and Melina Travlou, Managing Director, Neptune Lines Shipping & Managing Enterprises S.A.

"Endeavor comes to Greece at a pivotal moment,” said Board Chair Michael Chandris. “The crisis has unleashed a new wave of entrepreneurship. Thousands of young people are no longer content with accepting a civil service job but are keen to develop their entrepreneurial ideas. Endeavor can become a catalyst to this process and thus have a substantial impact on a society in transition."

Chandris and the board have recruited former McKinsey & Co Manager Haris Makryniotis to serve as the first Managing Director, overseeing day-to-day operations for Endeavor Greece. Makryniotis intends to introduce the first Endeavor Greece Entrepreneur candidates- the founders of digital “city insider” platform Daily Secret- to an International Selection Panel in Istanbul, Turkey, in early October.

About Endeavor

Endeavor breaks down barriers that prevent emerging-market entrepreneurs from reaching their high-impact potential. Hailed by NYT columnist Thomas Friedman as the “mentor capitalist” model and “the best anti-poverty program of all,” Endeavor identifies entrepreneurs leading high-growth innovative companies in emerging markets. These entrepreneurs are given world-class strategic advice, access to key networks and other tools that will catapult them to success. With Endeavor’s guidance they become “high-impact” – expanding employment, generating wealth and inspiring others to innovate. Often overlooked, these local entrepreneurs are now jumpstarting private sector development in their countries.

At year-end 2011, Endeavor Entrepreneurs throughout Latin America, South Africa, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan had created more than 200,000 jobs and generated over $5.0 billion in revenues. For more information, visit http://www.endeavor.org

Further Information:

For more information on Endeavor Greece, please contact Anna Zilakou, [e-mail] (tel: [phone]).

For further details on Endeavor Global and Endeavor’s entire portfolio of High-Impact Entrepreneurs please contact David Wachtel, [e-mail]. (tel: [phone])