Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the creator and owner of the 'easy' family of companies, including easyJet, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of The Hellenic Initiative (THI). Starting easyJet at the age of 27, three decades ago, Sir Stelios is also known for his philanthropic contributions. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for services to entrepreneurship, he founded and presides over the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. The foundation supports a broad range of charitable activities in his homeland, Greece and Cyprus, and other countries where he has lived and worked. In 2017, Sir Stelios joined The Giving Pledge, committing half his wealth to continue his philanthropic endeavors.

THI, established in 2012, is a global nonprofit organization uniting Greeks of the Diaspora and Philhellenes to invest in Greece through programs focusing on economic development and crisis relief. Since its inception, THI has invested over $21 million in Greece, growing into the world's largest organization of the Greek diaspora.

Sir Stelios donates most profits from his 'easy' companies’ licensing fees to the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. In 2023, the foundation acquired and restored a historic building in Athens for use by Greek charities for their events. Additionally, Sir Stelios agreed to lead THI’s chapter in Monaco, where he resides, and will host a fundraising event there on June 25, 2024, for THI’s Summer Youth Academy in Athens.

George P. Stamas, Chairman of THI's Board, expressed excitement about welcoming Sir Stelios to the board, citing his dynamic entrepreneurial spirit. Andrew N. Liveris, Chairman Emeritus of THI, noted that THI's efforts, combining economic growth and philanthropic support, particularly for young people's success, will greatly benefit from Sir Stelios’s addition to the board.