With origins from Kefalonia and Elefsina and born in Glyfada, Athena I. Martinou was the shipping personality who changed the way of thinking and organization of shipping companies.
She founded Thenamaris which has been a school for top executives and ship owners.
Known in maritime and high society circles as Nunou, Athena had roots in shipping as she came from the traditional shipping family Methenitis, originally from Kefalonia and Eleusis.
Her husband, Ioannis Martinos (1907-1977), had one of the most well-known antiques and works of art shops in Athens. Together they raised 4 children.
The family's first investment was made around the mid-60s under the guidance of Athena Martinou. It was the bulk carrier vessel named "Thanasis", with a capacity of 10,000 tons.
In 1971, Athena Martinou decided to take over the management of the family's ships. Together with her sons, Thanasis, Dinos and Andreas, founded the company Thenamaris Ships Management. The company's growth was rapid. In just four years, in 1975, Thenamaris controlled a fleet consisting of 36 ships, with a carrying capacity of 850,000 tons.
In 1991, Athena decided to hand over the reins to her children.
Thanasis Martinos left the company to establish Eastern Mediterranean Maritime.
In 1997, Andreas followed, proceeding to the establishment of the shipping company Minerva Marine, leaving Dinos at the helm of the parent company Thenamaris.
Minerva is now taken over by Andreas' son, Andreas Junior, and Thenamaris by Nikolas Martinos, son of Dinos.
The Athena I. Martinou Foundation
The starting point for the creation of the Foundation was Athena I. Martinou’s passion for the sea and the destination was her contribution to society, the one that was active around the sea and feels its daily presence in her veins.
The love of life defined and she always was saying: “like the sea, of the female gender”. Her whole attitude towards life was like her attitude towards the sea. Love and passion, respect and devotion. That’s why she accepted life in all its aspects, whether calm and serene, or turbulent and stormy. Athena I. Martinou, like the sea, was never static. Bold and ambitious, hard-working and persistent, discreet and low-key, she was the “Nounou” of the Greek shipping sector.
For every act, every movement in Athena I. Martinou’s life, the sea was a source of inspiration. She was generous with it, as she was with those who love and respect it. She pursued her dream with hard work, drive and passion, and managed to win the respect and recognition of the shipping world with her merit.
Athena I. Martinou was always returning to the sea to draw strength, and it was to her that she wants to repay the generosity shown to her. Just as the waves of the sea carry us far away, so too she, with the substantial but silent charitable activity of her Foundation, wanted to make a decisive contribution to the implementation of projects for the benefit of Greek society, to help it transcend its horizons, to travel, to go far.
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