Polys Haji-Ioannou
Cypriot billionaire businessman
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Polys Haji-Ioannou (Greek: Πόλυς Χατζηιωάννου, born 1959/1960) is a Cypriot billionaire businessman, known for his shipping company Polyar Tankers and as a significant shareholder in the airline EasyJet, which was founded by his brother Stelios Haji-Ioannou.[2][3]
Polys Haji-Ioannou | |
|---|---|
Πόλυς Χατζηιωάννου | |
| Born | 1959 or 1960 (age 66–67)[1] |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Founder of Polyar Tankers; major shareholder of EasyJet |
| Spouse |
Rosemarie Zoudrou (m. 2001) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Loucas Haji-Ioannou |
| Relatives | Stelios Haji-Ioannou (brother) Clelia Haji-Ioannou (sister) |
Early life
Haji-Ioannou was born in Cyprus to shipping magnate Loucas Haji-Ioannou (1927–2008), who built up a large shipping fleet beginning in the 1950s.[4] His siblings include Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder of EasyJet, and Clelia Haji-Ioannou.[5]
Career
Polyar Tankers
Haji-Ioannou is the founder and owner of Polyar Tankers, a shipping company established in the early 1990s. The company has managed a fleet of around 20 oil tanker vessels.[2][6]
EasyJet shareholding
Haji-Ioannou holds a significant stake in EasyJet, which was founded in 1995 by his brother Stelios. His stake in the company forms a large part of his personal fortune.[2] In 2013, he and his siblings sold a portion of their shares to protest EasyJet's expansion strategy.[7]
Safe Bulkers
Haji-Ioannou is chairman and chief executive officer of the dry bulk shipping company Safe Bulkers Inc., a position he has held since its 2008 listing on the New York Stock Exchange.[8][9] He is also the largest individual shareholder, holding approximately 27–28% of the company's shares, making Safe Bulkers effectively under his control.[10][11]