The official biography of Nikolaos Stasinopoulos on the Viohalco website is tellingly brief: “Nikolaos Stasinopoulos, Chairman, non-executive member. Mr. Stasinopoulos holds a master’s degree from the Athens University of Economics and Business. He has served as Chairman and Vice Chairman of Viohalco Hellenic.”
This minimalist description perfectly captures the philosophy of the man who led Viohalco for decades, turning it into a global industrial pillar. Despite commanding one of the most powerful corporate groups in the world, Stasinopoulos remained almost “invisible” to the public eye.
He belonged to a pioneering generation of industrialists who systematically avoided displays of wealth, choosing to remain low-profile and without the “red-carpet” theatrics that define modern celebrities.
Viohalco S.A. is a leading European industrial holding company specializing in the sustainable manufacture of aluminum, copper, cables, steel, and steel pipes. Established in 1937 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, it is the parent company of several major industrial subsidiaries that collectively represent a significant portion of Greek exports (roughly 7%).
A century of industrial evolution
The story began in Arcadia, in the village of Stadio Tegeas. In 1920, three brothers—Michalis, Giannis, and Ilias Stasinopoulos—moved to Athens in search of a better life. By 1937, they laid the foundation of Viohalco on Piraeus Street. What started off as a small copper works producing household goods survived the devastation of WWII and the post-war economic crisis to become a diversified giant.
Under Nikolaos’ leadership, beginning in the 1950s, the company underwent a radical transformation. He moved early to adopt a holding company structure—a visionary move that allowed his subsidiaries, such as Elval and Hellenic Cables, the flexibility to dominate international markets.
The legacy of an “invisible billionaire”
Though his empire now spans eight countries with annual revenues of €7 billion, “Mr. Nikos”—as his employees affectionately called him—remained a man of mild temperament and profound discretion. He oversaw the group’s “take-off,” including the strategic move of Viohalco’s headquarters to Brussels in 2013 and its listing on Euronext.
Up until his final days, he remained active, watching with pride as his sons, Giannis and Michalis, led the family’s “business child” toward a sustainable, high-tech future. He leaves behind not just a global industrial leader, but a blueprint for a life lived with dignity, power, and absolute humility.