ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Giannis Karousos

Giannis Karousos (born 21 November 1979) is a Cypriot politician who has held various high-profile positions in the country's government and local administration.

Karousos studied International hospitality and tourism management at the University of Surrey from 1999 to 2002, before pursuing an MBA degree from French ESSEC Business School and Cornell American University between 2003 and 2005. He also acquired a professional title as Chartered Marketer with the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the United Kingdom.

A volunteer bone marrow donor since his early twenties, Karousos has demonstrated his commitment to social causes by leading a group of volunteers from Saint Napa during the major fires in the Solea region in 2016. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the "Desspina" Foundation, which supports children with childhood diabetes.

Karousos' entry into politics began when he was elected as an alderman in the Municipality of Agia Napa in the 2006 municipal election. He was re-elected in the 2011 municipal election and later became Mayor of Saint Napas at the age of 33, following the death of his predecessor Antonis Chokkos in January 2013.

In a run-up to the mayoral election, Karousos successfully campaigned for the position, securing 64.89% of the vote in the 2016 municipal election. His tenure as Mayor was marked by his dedication to improving the lives of Saint Napas residents.

Karousos' career in government began when he was appointed Minister of Transport, Communications & Works (Ministry of Transport and Works) in the Anastasiades government on December 3, 2019. He served in this position until at least 2022, although specific dates are not mentioned.

Following a brief period as Acting Minister for Labour and Social Security after Zeta Emilianidou's health issues led to her resignation, Karousos took over the responsibilities of the Ministry on June 7, 2022.