Owner, CEO and Executive Director of Chr. Kapodistrias & Sons Ltd, Constantinos Kapodistrias describes managing the personal and professional costs brought about by the loss of his father in 2013 as the most difficult period in his career.
Speaking at INSPIRE 2026 and during the 'The Game Changers' panel, he said that the loss, which came unexpectedly and after a tragic accident, was not only personal, but also professional. “I had to simultaneously manage the personal part of losing my father, without at the same time showing anything at work. There had to be coherence and continuity, to come forward – because someone had to come forward – so that there would not be a leadership vacuum and the company could enter a new era,” he noted.
He also expressed pride in the fact that since 2013 the company has managed to grow approximately 2.5 times in terms of turnover and staff.
Recounting his own professional career, Constantinos Kapodistrias said that in 1969 his father decided to open a small business, a small spare parts store in Pallouriotissa. “It was a given and expected that we would follow in the footsteps of the family business. I had decided that this was what I would do. After my military service, in 1989 I went to America to study business administration, but every summer we worked in the store and essentially grew up within the business,” he pointed out, emphasising that in 1995 he took over the business, “not as a paratrooper,” as the employees knew him.
He also referred to his effort to change both the image and profile of the company and the image of the aftermarket in Cyprus. “In June 1995, I decided to better organise the company, which now employs 350 people. I drafted the personnel manual, the operating rules, introducing the uniform regulation, which was something innovative for the time,” emphasised the Owner/CEO/Executive Director of Chr. Kapodistrias & Sons Ltd, explaining that other substantial changes were also achieved. “We put in a lot of effort, I am proud of the fact that the personnel booklet covered, among other things, issues of equality and sexual harassment,” he said characteristically.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
Strategic Partner: CYTA Business
Platinum Sponsor: Bank of Cyprus
Innovation Partner: Ίδρυμα Έρευνας και Καινοτομίας/Research and Innovation Foundation
Gold Sponsors: Cyfield Group, Zorbas Group
Silver Sponsors: Bioland Energy, Petrolina (Holdings) Public Ltd
Stage Sponsors: Invest Cyprus - CIPA , KPMG Cyprus, National Bank of Greece, Odyssey Cybersecurity
Academic Partner: University of Nicosia
Mobility Partner: Pilakoutas Group
Sustainability Partner: Electricity Authority of Cyprus
Hospitality Sponsor: Hilton Nicosia
Sponsor: IMR/UNIVERSITY OF NICOSIA , Αρχή Ανάπτυξης Ανθρώπινου Δυναμικού - Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus, Henry’s by Columbia, 33East
Panel Sponsor: Allwyn Cyprus
Technology Sponsor: Abasis.AI
Wellbeing Partner: wayfitco.
Supporting Organisations: National Betting Authority , SkillsCyprus
Exhibitors: drastyc, Emphasys Centre, Giorgio Armani, Factorial ,GrantXpert Consulting Ltd, onlyseo., Photos Photiades Breweries ,Wolt, Bank of Cyprus Nicosia Marathon
Supporters: Cloud Office,CP Herbal Skin Care, Farm Wisely Cyprus, Chr. Kapodistrias & Sons Ltd, Superhome Center, Alphamega Hypermarkets
Mimajo Healthy Snacks Ltd, Robura Asset Management, University of Limassol, Voici la Mode Group of Companies
With the Support of: Cyprus Computer Society, CITEA, CCCI, CPMA, OEB, Youth Board of Cyprus,TechIsland, StudentLife Academy, CSR Cyprus
Communication Sponsors: SuperFM, REPORTER, IN Business, Cyprus Business News, Alpha TV
Organiser: IMH
Under the Auspices: Nicosia Municipality
Also read: Daphne Alexander: 'Having courage didn’t mean that I wasn’t afraid'
Also read: Andreas Sheittanis: ‘I never thought my hobby could become my career’
Also read: INSPIRE 2026 bringing a second day of entrepreneurship and inspiration to Nicosia (pics)
Also read: INSPIRE 2026: Evangelia Aspromalli says younger generations need to feel valued at work
Also read: INSPIRE 2026: Marios Antoniou says HR is now faced with very different cultures and mindsets
