George Syrimis (October 1921 – January 5, 2010)[1] was a Cyrpiot accountant who served as the Finance Minister of Cyprus from 1988 until 1993.[2] Syrimis was also the founder of the accounting firm, G. Syrimis & Co., which eventually evolved into KPMG Cyprus.[2]
Syrimis was born in Nicosia, Cyprus.[2] However, his family was originally from Agros, Cyprus, a village in the island's southern Pitsilia region.[2] Syrimis studied accounting in England, where he became a certified accountant.[2]
He returned to his native Cyrpus from the United Kingdom in 1948.[2] Syrimis founded his own accounting firm, G. Syrimis & Co. His firm later became part of Peat Marwick, which, in turn, was merged to become KPMG International in 1987.[2] In 1961, Syrimis became a founding member of the Association of Certified Public Accounts of Cyprus (ICPAC), later serving as chair of the professional organization.[2]
George Vassiliou appointed Syrimis as the country's Finance Minister in 1988.[2] He continued to serve as finance minister within the Vassiliou government until 1993.[2]
Syrismis was heavily involved in Cyriot charities and philanthropic organizations.[2] An art collector, he sold his pieces to benefit local organizations, including the Cypriot National Guard.[2] He was also a member of the Rotary Club of Nicosia, the oldest rotary club in Cyprus.[2]
Syrimis died on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, at the age of 88.[2] He was survived by four children – Olympia Stylianou, the director general of the Cypriot Ministry of Education; Nicos Syrimis, the chairman of the Association of Certified Public Accounts of Cyprus since June 2009; Michalis Syrimis and Marios Syrimis.[2]