Akis Cleanthous
Encyclopedia
Akis Cleanthous was a Cypriot
politician
and financial analyst
. Cleanhous served as the chairman of the Cyprus Stock Exchange
from 2003 to 2007 and Minister of Education and Culture from 2007 until 2008. He was a member of the Democratic Party
(DIKO), a center-right political party
.
Cleanthous was born in 1964 in Argaka
, Paphos District
, Cyprus. He received a bachelor's degree
in marketing management
from Baruch College
in New York City
. Cleanthous then obtained a Master of Business Administration
(MBA) in quantitative analysis from St. John's University in Queens
, New York
.
Cleanthous initially worked as banker, specializing in electronic banking, before moving into the Cypriot Internet Technology sector. He was appointed the chairman of the Cyprus Stock Exchange
(CSE) in 2003 by the Council of Ministers. He remained the head of the CSE until February 20, 2007, when he was appointed Minister of Education and Culture.
In February 2007, Cleanthous was appointed the Minister of Education and Culture within the government of President Tassos Papadopoulos
. He remained in that position until the Cypriot presidential election
in February 2008, when he was succeeded as minister by Andreas Demetriou
. A former member of the House of Representatives of Cyprus
for the DIKO, Cleanthous served as the head of the party's political planning bureau and a member of DIKO's executive committee
. He also served as the chairman of the Spyros Kyprianou Institute, a Cypriot think tank
named for Spyros Kyprianou
.
Outside of politics, Cleanthous took a position as the managing director of Evresis Loyalty Management in 2008. Cleanthous also served as the chairman of Sea Star Capital Plc and as a member of the board of directors of the Nicosia
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Akis Cleanthous died of a heart attack on April 11, 2011, at the age of 46. At the time of his death, Cleanthous had been scheduled to stand for election in the 2011 Cypriot legislative election
on May 22, 2011.
Cleanthous' funeral was held at the Saint Sophia Church in Strovolos
. Dignitaries in attendance included Cypriot President Demetris Christofias. He was buried at St. Nicolaos cemetery. Cleanthous was survived by his wife, Christiana Cleanthous , and son, Evangelos.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and financial analyst
Financial analyst
A financial analyst, securities analyst, research analyst, equity analyst, or investment analyst is a person who performs financial analysis for external or internal clients as a core part of the job.-Job:...
. Cleanhous served as the chairman of the Cyprus Stock Exchange
Cyprus Stock Exchange
The Cyprus Stock Exchange or CSE is a stock exchange located in Nicosia, Cyprus. It was established under the Cyprus Securities and Stock Exchange Law which provides for the development of the securities market in Cyprus and for the establishment and operation of the Cyprus Stock Exchange, and was...
from 2003 to 2007 and Minister of Education and Culture from 2007 until 2008. He was a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Cyprus)
The Democratic Party is a centrist political party in Cyprus, founded in 1976 by Spyros Kyprianou. As it is reported in its founding statement , the Democratic Party proposes to the Cypriot society the political philosophy of "social centrism", which constitutes “a total of attributes and values...
(DIKO), a center-right political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
.
Cleanthous was born in 1964 in Argaka
Argaka
Argaka is a village in the Paphos District of Cyprus, located 7 km northeast of Polis Chrysochous....
, Paphos District
Paphos District
Paphos District is one of the six districts of Cyprus and it is situated in the western part of Cyprus. Its main town and capital is Paphos. The entire district is controlled by the internationally recognized government of Cyprus...
, Cyprus. He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in marketing management
Marketing management
Marketing management is a business discipline which is focused on the practical application of marketing techniques and the management of a firm's marketing resources and activities...
from Baruch College
Baruch College
Bernard M. Baruch College, more commonly known as Baruch College, is a constituent college of the City University of New York, located in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, New York City. With an acceptance rate of just 23%, Baruch is among the most competitive and diverse colleges in the nation...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Cleanthous then obtained a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
(MBA) in quantitative analysis from St. John's University in Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Cleanthous initially worked as banker, specializing in electronic banking, before moving into the Cypriot Internet Technology sector. He was appointed the chairman of the Cyprus Stock Exchange
Cyprus Stock Exchange
The Cyprus Stock Exchange or CSE is a stock exchange located in Nicosia, Cyprus. It was established under the Cyprus Securities and Stock Exchange Law which provides for the development of the securities market in Cyprus and for the establishment and operation of the Cyprus Stock Exchange, and was...
(CSE) in 2003 by the Council of Ministers. He remained the head of the CSE until February 20, 2007, when he was appointed Minister of Education and Culture.
In February 2007, Cleanthous was appointed the Minister of Education and Culture within the government of President Tassos Papadopoulos
Tassos Papadopoulos
Tassos Nikolaou Papadopoulos was a Cypriot politician. He served as the fifth President of the Republic of Cyprus from February 28, 2003 to February 28, 2008.His parents were Nicolas and Aggeliki from Assia. He was the first of three children...
. He remained in that position until the Cypriot presidential election
Cypriot presidential election, 2008
A presidential election was held in Cyprus on 17 February 2008, with the second round held on 24 February 2008. The second-round winner, and thus the President of Cyprus for the next term, is Dimitris Christofias....
in February 2008, when he was succeeded as minister by Andreas Demetriou
Andreas Demetriou
Andreas Demetriou is a well known Greek Cypriot developmental psychologist and a former Minister of Education and Culture of Cyprus.- Life :...
. A former member of the House of Representatives of Cyprus
House of Representatives of Cyprus
The House of Representatives is the parliament of Cyprus. It has 59 members elected for a five year term, 56 members by proportional representation and 3 observer members representing the Maronite, Latin and Armenian minorities...
for the DIKO, Cleanthous served as the head of the party's political planning bureau and a member of DIKO's executive committee
Executive Committee
Executive Committee may refer to:* The Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland, a government body in the United Kingdom 1921–1972* The Northern Ireland Executive, a government body in the United Kingdom...
. He also served as the chairman of the Spyros Kyprianou Institute, a Cypriot think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
named for Spyros Kyprianou
Spyros Kyprianou
Spyros Achilleos Kyprianou was one of the most prominent politicians of modern Cyprus. He served as the second President of the Republic of Cyprus from 1977 to 1988....
.
Outside of politics, Cleanthous took a position as the managing director of Evresis Loyalty Management in 2008. Cleanthous also served as the chairman of Sea Star Capital Plc and as a member of the board of directors of the Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Akis Cleanthous died of a heart attack on April 11, 2011, at the age of 46. At the time of his death, Cleanthous had been scheduled to stand for election in the 2011 Cypriot legislative election
Cypriot legislative election, 2011
A legislative election to the Vouli ton Antiprosópon was held in Cyprus on 22 May 2011. Of the 59 seats, 56 were open for election to the House of Representatives ....
on May 22, 2011.
Cleanthous' funeral was held at the Saint Sophia Church in Strovolos
Strovolos
Strovolos is a municipality of Nicosia. With a population of near 70,000, it is the second biggest municipality of Cyprus, after Limassol, and the biggest municipality of Nicosia...
. Dignitaries in attendance included Cypriot President Demetris Christofias. He was buried at St. Nicolaos cemetery. Cleanthous was survived by his wife, Christiana Cleanthous , and son, Evangelos.