was born in Athens in 1967 – his business card defines him as a serial entrepreneur. His first business, financially backed by his family, was a shipping line. This was followed by easyJet, a leading European low-price no-frills airline. Like its leading rival, Ryanair, easyJet continues to grow and prosper, even though Stelios has no routine involvement any more. Instead he focuses on starting new businesses which can benefit from association with his popular and instantly recognisable ‘easy’ brand name. These now include internet cafés, rental cars, an on-line price comparison web site, a credit card, buses on inter-city routes, a cinema complex, home delivery pizzas, men’s toiletries, mobile phone services and a hop-on, hop-off cruise ship. Some of the businesses are more successful than others. Stelios has become a popular media figure and his name is often called to mind when people are asked to name prominent and successful entrepreneurs. Stelios completed both undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in London before he started out in business, as well as working for his father for a spell. He commits his own resources to his new ventures but ensures he can afford for the business not to succeed.
Serial Entrepreneurship
I think I’ve got a very low boredom threshold. I think some doctors call it attention deficiency disorder. Maybe it’s a compulsion, but I get bored if I stay with the same business too long. I always like the challenge, I like something new. I’m always looking for ways to make a difference in people’s lives in a different way. I built a reputation in the travel business, and Easy Jet now carries nearly 30 million people a year, but that’s travel. I then said OK, what about people staying at home? Maybe we should make it easier for them to order a pizza, maybe we should provide a DVD for them to stay at home one night and have fun with the Easy brand.
was born in Athens in 1967 – his business card defines him as a serial entrepreneur. His first business, financially backed by his family, was a shipping line. This was followed by easyJet, a leading European low-price no-frills airline. Like its leading rival, Ryanair, easyJet continues to grow and prosper, even though Stelios has no routine involvement any more. Instead he focuses on starting new businesses which can benefit from association with his popular and instantly recognisable ‘easy’ brand name. These now include internet cafés, rental cars, an on-line price comparison web site, a credit card, buses on inter-city routes, a cinema complex, home delivery pizzas, men’s toiletries, mobile phone services and a hop-on, hop-off cruise ship. Some of the businesses are more successful than others. Stelios has become a popular media figure and his name is often called to mind when people are asked to name prominent and successful entrepreneurs. Stelios completed both undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in London before he started out in business, as well as working for his father for a spell. He commits his own resources to his new ventures but ensures he can afford for the business not to succeed.
