Athanasios 'Thanassis' Martinos is a Greek shipping magnate and co-owner of one of the world's largest private fleets. He is a scion of the powerful Martinos dynasty, whose wealth is rooted in the high-stakes world of global maritime transport. Athanasios was born in 1950 and, like his brothers, was educated to take a leadership role in the family's century-old shipping tradition.

He received a dual education in finance, graduating from the Athens University – School of Economics in 1974 and attending the City College of London for Shipping Studies. This blend of economics and specialized maritime knowledge was essential. His career began in 1971 as a Co-Managing Director of the family shipping business, Thenamaris. However, the Greek shipping tradition often favors independent enterprise, leading to a pivotal, friendly split among the siblings.

Athanasios Martinos's defining entrepreneurial act came in 1991 when he made the decisive move to leave the original family business and established his own shipping company, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited (Eastmed), in Glyfada. This move, executed after the amicable split from Thenamaris, allowed him to implement his own strategic vision for fleet management and chartering.

Under Martinos's leadership, Eastmed grew into a formidable force, operating a large, diversified fleet of tankers, bulk carriers, and container vessels. His strategy is built on cautious financing, technical excellence, and aggressive market timing, positioning Eastmed as a major player in the global transport of essential commodities. He, along with his brothers, Constantinos Martinos (Thenamaris) and Andreas Martinos (Minerva Marine), collectively control one of the world’s largest fleets, ensuring the Martinos family’s combined influence on global trade remains unparalleled.

Athanasios Martinos and his wife, Marina, are deeply committed to social causes, primarily in Greece, channeling their giving through two family foundations: AIGEAS Non-Profit Civil Company and The Athanasios and Marina Martinou Foundation. Their philanthropy is significant, often supporting local community projects, cultural causes, and healthcare infrastructure in Greece.

His personal involvement extends to cultural and religious patronage; he is an Archon of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and a Governor of Mount Athos. This blend of civic and religious commitment reflects the deep tradition of Greek shipping families supporting their national and spiritual heritage.

Athanasios Martinos maintains the composed, traditional style of a senior Greek shipping magnate. His attire is consistently elegant and formal, favoring high-quality, conservative tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects the quiet confidence and stability of multi-generational maritime wealth, avoiding any ostentatious display that could suggest risk or volatility in the shipping market.

His lifestyle is secure and influential, centered in Athens and the exclusive shipping community of Glyfada. His luxury is the strategic freedom to command a large, modern global fleet and to pursue high-level patronage of cultural and religious institutions. His wealth is a testament to the enduring profitability of Greek shipping, a family legacy maintained through discipline and market mastery.