Yiannis Boutaris

Yiannis Boutaris was born in Thessaloniki, 1942.  He obtained his degree in Chemistry in 1965 from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and his Diploma of Enology from the Wine Institute of Athens In 1967.  From 1969 through 1996, he served successively as Assistant Director, Technical Director, and Managing Director at the family wine industry J.BOUTARI & SON S.A. In 1996 he left the family business and founded YANNIS BOUTARIS & ASSOCIATES Ltd., a consulting company in the wine sector. In 1998 he created “KIR YIANNI S.A.” winery, located at the privately-owned vineyards of Yiannakohori and Amyndeon, run today by his two sons. He retained his position in both posts until 2010.

Yiannis Boutaris served as a Municipal Counselor for two terms (2002-2006 and 2006-2010). He leaded “Protovoulia for Thessaloniki” at two consequent municipal elections in 2006 and 2010 as candidate for Mayor and in November 2012 was elected Mayor of Thessaloniki. 

He has served as President and member of the Board of Directors of many professional, cultural, and environmental organizations since 1980, such as the Assembly of European Wine Regions (AREV), the Academie Internationale du Vin, the Federation of Greek Wines and Spirits Industries, the Thessaloniki Film Festival, W.W.F. Greece, and the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization.  He was also the founder of the Macedonian Museum of Modern Art (Thessaloniki) and “Arcturos”, a non-profit organization aiming at the protection and management of the environment and wildlife.  He has received many national and international awards and distinctions.