Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is best known for founding the low-cost airline easyJet in 1994 and establishing the easy brand family. Less well-known globally is the fact that easyGroup donates over half of its annual profits to the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation – amounting to €122 million since 2010.
The scale and scope of the Foundation’s work is equally impressive, spanning six countries and programmes that range from bicommunal awards in Cyprus to healthcare support on remote Greek islands.
What is the core mission of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation?
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation’s mission is to support a diverse range of charitable causes, but always closer to home in the six countries where my family and I have lived and worked: Cyprus and Greece, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Monaco and France. In Cyprus particularly, one of our longstanding priorities has been to promote lasting peace and economic prosperity on the island by encouraging business cooperation between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs.
What has been the most important lesson for you since setting up the Foundation?
Philanthropy has taught me that lasting impact comes from creating opportunities that enable people to move forward with dignity and confidence. Long-term change happens when support helps individuals build a more stable and hopeful future for themselves and their families. I have also learned that even relatively small actions can make a meaningful difference when they are consistent and rooted in genuine care. It was at the age of 40 that I truly began to repay my debt to society. I believe that the wealthy have an obligation to give back. Their success is thanks to their customers, their communities and the societies that shaped them. Nobody has a monopoly on good charitable ideas and the problems in our world will never all go away, so we must keep helping within our means. That is the philosophy that will guide the Foundation long into the future.
What are some of the most significant activities organised by the Foundation?
Over the years, we have developed important initiatives focusing on social support, entrepreneurship, education and healthcare. One of the longest-running is "Food from the Heart," launched during the 2013 financial crisis in Greece and Cyprus. Today, it supports vulnerable groups in Greece, Cyprus, the UK, Ireland and France by distributing snacks to people facing financial difficulties. Another significant institution is the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Cooperation in Cyprus, now in its 16th year. Established to encourage entrepreneurship and cooperation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, the Awards have become one of the longest-running and most meaningful institutions of bi-communal cooperation on the island. With this year's prize fund of €500,000, the total value of the Awards has now reached €5.3 million.
Supporting young entrepreneurs is also an important part of our work, delivered through seven entrepreneurship awards organised across Greece, Cyprus, the UK, Ireland, France and Monaco. In Cyprus, key initiatives include the Stelios Bi-Communal Awards and the Stelios Awards for Young Entrepreneurs, both designed to recognise and support entrepreneurial talent through financial prizes. Scholarships are also offered to students facing financial difficulties, helping young people access educational institutions such as the University of Cyprus, the London School of Economics and Bayes Business School in London, as well as schools and academies in Greece. Emergency financial support has also been provided during periods of national tragedy and crisis, including assistance for the families of victims of the devastating wildfires in Mati and the Tempi railway tragedy in Greece.
One of our newest initiatives is a €10 million programme in Greece designed to strengthen public healthcare on small islands over a seven-year period, helping retain 80 doctors across 47 remote islands. In addition, we support charities and community organisations active in healthcare, education and social welfare, and offer our facilities in Nicosia and Athens free of charge to registered non-profit organisations for charitable events and activities.
What does the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation hope to achieve in the coming years and what will that mean for Cyprus?
Looking ahead, we will continue strengthening our existing initiatives and expanding our presence in the countries where we are already active. In Cyprus, the Bi-Communal Awards remain at the heart of our commitment to the island, and we intend to keep building on their legacy. We will also continue to support young entrepreneurs across all the countries where we operate, as this is one of the most meaningful things we can do. We also support a diverse range of other charities.
What would you say to entrepreneurs who may be considering some involvement in charitable work but haven’t yet taken the first step?
Do not wait too long. That is the simplest advice I can offer. I have found that a good time to start is around the age of 40; you begin small and learn and increase your giving as your own business grows. Philanthropy is not only about financial donations. It is about sharing experiences, creating opportunities and helping others move forward. Find a cause that genuinely matters to you and support it consistently. The reward is not financial but it stays with you far longer than any business success.
This interview first appeared in 2026 edition of The Cyprus Journal of Wealth Management. Click here to view it.
