Ivan Savvidis

Ivan Savvidis (Greek Ιβάν Σαββίδης; Russian Иван Игнатьевич Саввиди; born March 27, 1959 in Santa, Lower Kartli, Georgia) is a Greek- Russian entrepreneur and owner of the football club PAOK Thessaloniki.

Life

Ivan Savvidis was born the son of Pontian Greeks in Santa. He studied in Rostov and then worked in the Rostov tobacco factory, where he held various positions. He was its director later he acquired in an MBO, the majority of the operation in 1992. The firm developed in the following years the leading tobacco company in Russia.

Savvidis is a deputy in the Russian Duma for the United Russia party of the Rostov region. He is a member of the Parliamentary Liaison Group Russia - Greece. The Association of Hellenes Abroad SAE - World Council of Hellenes Abroad, he is president of the Black Sea region.

Involvement in football

Savvidis heavily involved in football. From 2002 to 2005 he was president of FK Rostov, as he was engaged in the FK SKA Rostov. In June 2012, he acquired the majority of the Greek football club PAOK Thessaloniki.