Dr. Yiannis Paraschis
, CEO of the Athens International Airport (AIA) and member of i-MBA’s Business Advisory Council was honoured with the “CAPA Airport Chief Executive of the Year” Award at the CAPA World Aviation Summit 2015 in Helsinki for his pioneering work at Athens Airport and his overall contribution to the international airport industry.
CAPA Centre for Aviation is the leading provider of independent aviation market intelligence, analysis and data services, covering worldwide developments. The CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence have recognised strategic leadership in the aviation industry since 2002. The awards are not driven by customer surveys or sponsorship. They are independently researched by CAPA and Heidrick & Struggles and selected by an independent international panel of judges.
The “Airport Chief Executive of the Year” Award category was established this year, to acknowledge the airport executive who has demonstrated outstanding strategic thinking and innovative direction for the growth of the specific airport business and the industry.
Yiannis Paraschis was selected by the judging panel “for his ability to thrive in an extremely difficult environment”, taking into account the remarkable strategic thinking demonstrated along with the introduction of innovative approaches that made a difference by offering new directions for others to take up.
The innovative approaches adopted by AIA include its commitment to IT&T innovation, keeping the highest level of services with continuous rise in productivity and reduction of operating costs, AIA’s high rating for its carbon footprint reduction strategies within the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme and its leadership achieved in the field of airport marketing across the years.
On the occasion of his selection as “Airport Chief Executive of the Year”, Dr. Paraschis said:
“I feel deeply honoured with this distinction, which comes from the world leaders of independent aviation market intelligence. It emphasizes that, even going through the most severe conditions, a company governed efficiently and driven, at the same time, by the firm commitment of a highly capable and dedicated team of professionals, may achieve fantastic results. It is a tremendous satisfaction to see our work acknowledged internationally, positioning Athens among the model airports paving the way for the implementation of pioneer approaches and innovative practices.
Dealing with significant challenges is never a one man show. This recognition belongs to the Athens International Airport and the total of 13,000 employees from 300 public and private sector operating entities, all members of the Athens airport community”.
As the judging panel noted, under the leadership of its CEO, AIA continued to record consistent growth in passenger numbers despite the deep crisis. This was achieved thanks to targeted initiatives and programmes to support traffic development and the airport’s airline partners to the benefit of the passengers.
Yiannis Paraschis has been AIA’s CEO since 2007, leading and expanding the airport through an extremely demanding period. Dr. Paraschis has also been active as board member of ACI World, serving as vice-chairman from 2009 to 2011 and chairman from 2011 to 2013. He is a member of the i-MBA Business Advisory Council since its establishment in 2004.
