Polys Haji-Ioannou | |
|---|---|
Πόλης Χατζιωάννου | |
| Born | 1959 or 1960 (age 65–66) [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) |
Polys Haji-Ioannou (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]
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]
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]
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]
Haji-Ioannou serves as 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 outstanding shares, making Safe Bulkers effectively under his control. [10] [11]
As of 2023, Haji-Ioannou’s net worth was estimated at around US$1.1 billion, according to Forbes. [2] Other financial media, such as GoodReturns, have reported similar figures of US$1.2 billion. [12]
In 2001, Haji-Ioannou married Rosemarie Zoudrou; they have two children and reside in Monaco. [2] [13]