Professor Stratis Andreadis – The Autobiography of a Businessman
editor Papadopoulos
page 335

The autobiography of the versatile shipowner, professor, banker and businessman Stratis Andredis is well worth reading over and over again. It largely tells the story of the creation of the Greek economic miracle after 1950, the belief in principles, goals and visions, the conflict of free enterprise with statism and micropolitics, but, above all, makes us talented, hardworking, high-intellect communicators. and the strength of this versatile Renaissance man. Stratis Andreadis bequeathed to us a well constructed account of his life, of Chios, where he was born in 1905, of the origins of his family, of Athens and Paris between the wars, of the climate in ASOEE, where he served as rector, of December, for the rebirth of Greece, for the bitter disappointment she experienced in post-colonization. First of all, the size of his intellect and the now rare combination of enterprise and personal culture are striking.

Of course, Stratis Andreadis was not just a multifaceted businessman. The reader may first turn to page 334 to view the Achievement Timeline. In short: Emporiki Bank, Ionian and Laiki Bank, Attica Bank, insurance companies, Investment Bank, Piraeus Bank, Hellenic Juice and Canning Industry, Elefsina Shipyards, Hilton Hotel, Fertilizer Industry, Electric Railway (extension to Kifisia) and of course ships . and expanding maritime competition. In short, these are just headlines, because the interest in storytelling lies in what the reader can read between the lines. Stratis Andreadis gradually emerges as a child, teenager and youth, and one cannot help but appreciate the steely faith in goals and the ability to achieve them. The narrative is inspired by the momentum of charismatic personalities of the 20th century, whose virtues are now rare. And they are rare because they are not one-dimensional. Stratis Andreadis expressed his patriotism by investing in his country, opening jobs, introducing know-how, boosting creativity.

Written after the bitter disillusionment he experienced in post-colonization, when much of his land was effectively confiscated, this reading is instructive in many ways. This is an alternative story about the light and dark forces of Greece. The narrative of his life is inspired not by bitterness, but by high spirits, and what remains as an aftertaste is the many questions that arise about the inglorious fate of the Andreadis group after 1975 with the nationalization, initially, of the Emporiki bank. These are issues that still worry the public life of Greece, the conflict between entrepreneurship and statism, transparency, control, the limits of power. The Andreadis Empire was a concern for many, and it’s easy to think about it. If regulation were necessary, it could be done without the state showing ingratitude and vindictiveness.

In any case, the Andreadis family was acquitted by the European Court of Human Rights (for the annulment of the STRAN refinery contract in Megara). What is left for today’s reader is to reflect on the course of Greek society and economy and enjoy a rare narrative.