Speaker

John is a third-generation entrepreneur and Chairman of the Saracakis Group of
Companies, a family-owned enterprise with a 103-year history, active in four countries
across sectors including mobility, defense, construction and industrial equipment,
agricultural machinery, energy, and waste management.
In 2024, the Group (including Kinsen, in which he also participates) reported €340
million in turnover and employed over 1,070 people. It maintains longstanding
collaborations with global manufacturers such as Volvo, Komatsu, Mitsubishi Motors,
Honda, and Massey Ferguson (AGCO), as well as strategic partnerships with U.S. and
European entities in the defense sector.
John has played an active role in the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce for
nearly two decades. The Saracakis Group has been a Chamber member since 1948
being its longest-standing member. John joined the Board in 2007 and has served as
Vice President and Chair of the Public Affairs Committee since 2019, shaping strategic
advocacy and expanding the Chamber’s reach in Greece and abroad.
He joined the family business in 1998 and became Chairman in 2013. Under his
leadership, the Group expanded geographically, strengthened international alliances,
and reinforced its credibility across private and public sectors.
Beyond business, John engages regularly with leaders on both sides of the Atlantic,
contributing to discussions on economic modernization and industrial policy. He
previously served as Chairman of the Hellenic-Swedish Chamber of Commerce
(2013–2019) and is currently a Board Member of the Delphi Economic Forum and ALBA
Graduate Business School.
A graduate of Babson College (BSc), he has completed executive education at Harvard
(AMP) and is an alumnus and active member of the Hellenic American Educational
Foundation.
John is known as a collaborative leader and team player, valued for his integrity,
institutional commitment, and consensus-building approach. Through his interventions,
he articulates a forward-looking vision grounded in ethical leadership, long-term
competitiveness, and a modern productive model for Greece.