Chairman PANTELIS BOUMBOURAS

PROFILE

Entrepreneur, who succeeded by his own efforts, brave, ready to risk and judicious at the same time. He keeps his feet on the ground well but still dreams about the future. He has restless and independent character who confronts difficulties firmly and successes rationally. The group of powerful enterprises that were created slowly but persistently these days looks forward to the future optimistically and confidently.

The professional and social ‘climbing’ though didn’t infatuate him and didn’t change his character. Despite his huge success and public recognition, in particular the designation to the post of Honorary Consul of Greece in Crimea (that he took as his obligation more than like privilege and right), Pantelis Boumbouras always remains a simple and sincere man, a flaming patriot who divides his attention and a large part of his capital between the two native lands, lavishly funding the numerous and varied events that are aimed at the support of the Ukrainian Hellenism and the further rapproachement of the two friendly nations – Ukraine and Greece.

CAREER

Pantelis Boumbouras was born in 1955 on the island Limnos that is situated in the north part of the Aegean Sea, where he spent his infant and pupillary years.

In 1970 he moved to Athens, the city that was developing intensively those days. A young isleman at once saw his future in the developing sphere of construction. He began to work as a simple builder, gaining his first experience, and at the same time received the compulsory education, entered the High Technical School and in a year completed the diploma of Electrical Engineering.

In 1981 having obtained certain skills and inspired by the ideas that the key to success lies in the independent entrepreneur activity and not in the hired labour, he established his own company that dealt with the electrical work both in domestic premises and in more complicated industrial facilities. Each year the company’s turnover has been increasing, as well as the power of the industrial group, that in the middle of 1990-ies had more than 200 workers.

In spring 1997 he decided to accept the invitation of one of the biggest Greek construction companies “MICHANIKI”, that was developing its activities in Ukraine, and to become the general constructor.

By prominent chance the first works are completed in Greek Square in Odessa before the building of “Filiki Eteria”. Since then these two sightseeing places that symbolize the historic fraternal relationship between the two nations inextricably connect him with his new native land.

These strong ties could not have been weakened even by the plane crash in December 1997, where 23 Greeks (his colleagues and friends from “MICHANIKI”) and 50 Ukrainians died. On the contrary, the tragedy convinced him to move forward and work for those who died and those who feared to come back.

At the end of 1997 having estimated the perspective of the development of Ukraine and its colossal demand for contemporary domestic, office and other buildings, he established the company “Gefest” with the main office in Odessa. Today, after about 20 years of successful activities and sustainable development, “Gefest” ranks among the biggest construction companies of Ukraine, whose plans comprise the realization of construction projects of more than 450 000 sq. metres of the real estate.

The construction projects that are already built and those that continue to be built in Greece, Odessa, Kiev and Mariupol (domestic, office buildings, trade centres, restaurants and hospitals) are notable for the high quality of construction work and distinctive aesthetic decisions and have made “Gefest” the synonym of reliability, high professionalism and innovation.

PUBLIC WORK

Supports permanently and for a long period provides assistance to the Federation of Greek Communities of Ukraine and as the occasion demands covers the expenses of certain Greek communities – their allowance and functioning, as well as the organization of holidays and cultural events.
Systematically sponsors the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Odessa Branch for the organization of holidays and cultural events, conferences, scientific research, as well Ukrainian tours of the dancing group of the Foundation for its participation in different events.
Sponsors the Consulate General of Greece in Odessa and the Embassy of Greece in Kiev. This refers to the organization of receptions (Odessa) and important cultural events (Kiev), like: a) the concert of classical music by Greek composers in the National Opera House of Ukraine, March 2009, b) the performance of the world-famous Greek pianist Dimitrios Sgouros with the Academic Symphonic Orchestra of the National Philarmonia of Ukraine in the Column Hall named N.V.Lysenko, March 2010.
Entirely funded the book written by the scientists of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine “Greek Pages of Ukrainian History” and its publication in Ukrainian and Russian, Kiev, 2009 and 2013.
Offered to the Greek state to renovate dramatically the property of Greece – the building in Nezhinska Street in Odessa with the purpose of the further allocation of the Consulate General and the Consular Residence there.
Financed the setting of the monuments of the prominent historical figure of Odessa Mayor Grigoris Maraslis (1831-1907) in Odessa.
Provided financial backing to the group of Greek and Ukrainian historians and researchers for the creation of three documentaries about the Greeks who live in Ukraine from the time of their appearance until now, their historical route, customs and traditions.
In 2014 put forward the initiative of the establishment of the Association of Greek Entrepreneurs and Enterprises in Ukraine and in 2015 became its President.
In 2016 established the charitable organization “Boumbouras Foundation”, in plans of which apart from the reconstruction of the historical places of Odessa there is an erection of the Greek Park near the Potemkin Stairs.

HONORARY DISTINCTIONS

- In 2006 Odessa City Council rewarded him with the highest distinction of the city –Order of G.Maraslis - for the long-term successful activities and services to the city and its citizens.

- In 2012 the Greek state, having recognized his all-round contribution to the promotion of Greek culture in Ukraine and the strengthening of relationships between the two nations, offered him as a candidate and Ukraine accepted him as the Honorary Consul of Greece in Yalta with the consular district of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

- In 2013 Mr. Boumbouras was elected the nationwide award winner of the “Man of the Year” and became the holder of the International Prize in the sphere of charity and patronage of arts.

- Since 2014 Pantelis Boumbouras is the Chairman of the Administrative Board of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Odessa Branch.

- In 2016 he was awarded with the Medal of Honour by the Ministry for Defense of Ukraine for his contribution to the development of Armed Forces of Ukraine and his multiple financial support to the military hospitals in Kiev, Mariupol, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Odessa (medical preparations and equipment).

- On 2 September 2016 he was awarded with the city distinction “25^th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence” by the Mayor of Odessa Gennadiy Trukhanov. - On 3 September 2016 he was awarded with the Medal of Honour by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Greece for his contribution to the development of Hellenism.

- On 3 September 2016 he was awarded with the Medal of Honour “25^th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence” by the organizing committee of the Union of Journalists of Ukraine in Odessa and the management of the Odessa Diplomatic Club for the Greek culture promotion in Ukraine.

- On 28 October 2016 Pantelis Boumbouras was awarded with the Kyiv Orthodox Church Medal of Saint Equiapostolic Prince Volodymyr, 3rd degree, for his service to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as with the Honorable Mention for his active efforts that are directed at the assistance and development of the humanitarian sphere of the capital of Ukraine.

- On 31 October 2016 he was awarded by the Ministry of culture and sports of Greece for his contribution to education, restoration of historical truth and values of Hellinism.

Pantelis Boumbouras is married and has three children. His eldest son Vasilios (32 y.o., married) is an engineer and since 2009 successfully works in “Gefest” and is his father’s right hand.