Greece’s privatisation agency chief sacked
The chairman of Greece’s Privatisation Agency TAIPED, Stelios Stavridis, was sacked by the country’s Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras for using the private jet of businessman Dimitris Melissanidis whose private fund bought a 33 per cent stake in state gambling firm OPAP recently.
Stavridis was asked to step down with immediate effect in a brief statement by the Finance Ministry for travelling to his holiday home in the private jet owned by tycoon Melissanidis.
Stavridis, who only served for four months, is the second TAIPED chief to leave in less than six months. The Fund is now left with a pressing program to push through without anyone at the helm.
Yannis Emiris, the chief executive of Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund told Reuters, however, that the privatisation program will not be hindered by Stavridis’ resignation.
“Melissanidis, who was travelling to France, offered to take me with him to accommodate me,” Stavridis told reporters on August 29 2013. He said that he did not regret accepting the offer and had nothing to hide. Stavridis also said he was not sure the incident was not just used as an excuse by the Finance Ministry for his sacking.
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