Ilias Psinakis

Ilias Psinakis Mayor of Marathon municipality, manager, producer, TV presenter and showman

Ilias Psinakis (in Greek - Ηλίας Ψινάκης) - born on April 8, 1958 in Athens, Greece. Parents: Panagiotis Psinakis and Aliki Psinaki. Brother: Giorgos Psinakis.

Ilias Psinakis is a Greek manager, producer, television presenter and showman. In May 2014 he was elected Mayor of Marathon - the historical municipality in Greece, in September 2014 Psinakis took the office for a five year term.^[1][2]

Education

Psinakis studied International Business and International Marketing in the UK and the USA and got Master degrees in both of these spheres.^[3][4]

Social life

Psinakis has made friends of different well known and reputable persons in the arts, literature, theatre, cinema, fashion design and show business in Greece and abroad. These include: Andy Warhol, Alighiero Boetti, Franco Zeffirelli, Melina Mercouri, Manos Eleftheriou, Yannis Tsarouchis, Eirini Pappa, Vassilis Fotopoulos, Aliki Vougiouklaki and Valentino Garavani and others.^[5][6][7][8]

Show business

In his early years Psinakis was a fashion model. Later he started in television and wrote scenarios for a television series.^[9] And then for 16 years he was manager of popular Greek singer Sakis Rouvas. They were friends and collaborators and from the very beginning of Rouvas' career Psinakis has successfully made his very best to create the star. After this collaboration ceased in 2004, Psinakis became "the manager of himself" and succeeded as a judge in popular Greek TV shows Super Idol, Dream Show, Greece, You have Talent (Greek:Ελλάδα Έχεις Ταλέντο) and others. His every appearance on television still makes ratings. Within this period Psinakis also worked as manager of several singers and actors in Greece.^[10][11]

In 2008 Psinakis tried himself as singer recording the amusing song "Έχω πρόβλημα υγείας" (I have a health problem) (Music: Dimitris Kontopoulos, Lyrics: Manos Eleftheriou), which became a hit. For this song was also shot the videoclip.^[12]

Political career

Psinakis began his political activity when in 2010 he was elected in the City Council of Athens alongside Nikitas Kaklamanis (ex-mayor of Athens). Psinakis got the highest number of votes among all candidates of all parties and worked actively to promote the image of Athens in Greece and abroad. During his term he initiated and actively supported the charity project "For a plate of food" for providing help to the poor. The project was organised in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Athens and the government organization "Apostoli". Through this action, thousands of needy people in Athens could have free food and help. Dozens of famous and authoritative persons in Greece and abroad have supported this initiative, while in the immediate plans of the Marathon Mayor is to expand the project to other areas of the country, where there is a need.^[13][14]

In the Greek municipal elections of May 2014 Psinakis headed the association "Citizens" as a candidate of the Municipality of Marathon - the area where he has resided permanently for the last two decades. Residents elected him mayor in the first voting round (May 18, 2014) with 53.55% of the total votes, according to official data of the Ministry of Interior of Greece.^[15][16][17] Psinakis took the office on Friday, August 29, 2014. During the inauguration ceremony he described his vision of affairs in the areas of Marathon, Nea Makri, Varnavas, and Grammatiko, based on entirely different administration concept focusing on transparency, meritocracy and development of the region.^[18]

In early 2015 Psinakis was assigned as the head of international public relations for the Central Union of Municipalities (KEDE) ^[19] and together with his associates Psinakis actively supports official actions on return to Greece of the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, from the British Museum in London.^[20]

References