Loucas Haji-Ioannou
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Loucas Haji-Ioannou | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 September 1927 Pedoulas, Cyprus[1] |
| Died | 17 December 2008 (aged 81) Athens, Greece[2] |
| Occupation | Shipping entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Troodos Shipping; “Tanker King” of the 1980s |
| Spouse | Nedi Misirli[3] |
| Children | Stelios Haji-Ioannou Polys Haji-Ioannou Clelia Haji-Ioannou |
Loucas Haji-Ioannou (15 September 1927 – 17 December 2008) was a Greek-Cypriot shipping magnate, best known for building one of the world’s largest privately owned tanker fleets. Widely referred to as the "Tanker King," he controlled more than 50 vessels by the 1980s and played a dominant role in oil transportation routes during the Iran–Iraq War.[4][5]
Born in the mountain village of Pedoulas in Cyprus, Loucas was the eldest of twelve children and left school at age 17 to support his family.[3] He began as a salesman, then worked as an accountant for his uncle in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After his uncle’s death, he launched his own import–export enterprise during the 1950s Saudi construction boom and became the sole importer of Heracles and Titan cement.[3]
In 1959, he moved to London and acquired his first vessel—a 10,500-ton dry cargo ship named *Nedi* after his wife. By 1965, he had amassed a fleet of over 20 cargo vessels. Recognizing the potential of oil transportation, he purchased his first oil tanker in 1969, positioning his firm, Troodos Shipping, for rapid growth.[3]
