George Hatzimarkos is the Governor of South Aegean and President of the Association of Greek Regions.
He has been elected Governor of the South Aegean, one of the thirteen Regions of Greece, for the last three successive regional elections (2014, 2019 & 2023), whereas he has been elected President of the Association of the Greek Regions, in December 2024.
Since 2020, he is President of «K2» the Development Enterprise of South Aegean Region and Chairman of the Solid Waste Management Authority of South Aegean, which is responsible for the implementation of waste management actions, recycling and circular economy.
In 2024, he became Chairman of the Committee on Spatial Planning, Infrastructure and Transport of the Association of Greek Regions (ENPE). He also participates in the Monitoring Committee of the Immigration and Home Affairs Programmes 2021-2027 (TA.M.E.Y.) and in the Monitoring Committee of the Operational Programme Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development as a full member, while during the previous term (2019) he was Chairman of the Tourism Committee of EN.P.E..
He is member of the National Delegation of Greece in the European Committee of the Regions, in the Commissions of CIVEX (Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External affairs) and NAT (Commission for Natural Resources), until 2025, while earlier, in 2016-2017, he was President of the CPMR (Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe).
During his days as Governor, the South Aegean Region achieved the highest growth rate among all European Regions (Eurostat, 2021), it is the only Greek region that notes population growth (Hellenic Statistical Authority, 2021), it is the European Region with the highest employment rate (Eurostat, 2021), the European Region with the highest and faster tourism recovery post covid and the European Region of the highest tourism performance in terms of visits and revenue over the last years.
Committed to promoting sustainable
development, green energy and innovation, Region of South Aegean leads or participates in 5 projects (Smart and Sustainable Astypalea, Chalki the first Gr-eco Island, Tilos Just Go Zero, Aegean Innovation Center of Syros, The Rhodes Co-Lab. Sustainable Destination) which aim to mitigate the negative effects
of climate change, while promoting sustainable development and green
economy coupled to cutting-edge technologies.
Before entering politics, he was President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Dodecanese (2006-2010).
He studied Civil Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens before taking over the family courier business.
George Hatzimarkos is married to Anastasia Ioannidi and they have three children Alexia, Antonis and Stella.
