FORBES GREECE: Transforming regions with vision

Forbes recently featured the President of Kourtidis Group, Mr. Nikos Kourtidis, in an interview that highlights his vision for development and the future potential of the region. Below, we present the full interview as published in both Forbes and capital.gr.

Mr. Nikos Kourtidis, President of Kourtidis Group, never set out simply to sell houses, but to offer a way of life. Today, with more than 3,500 delivered residences across the coastal front of Eastern Macedonia from the Strymonian Gulf to Thassos and an additional 1,820 homes currently under development, the Group has succeeded in bringing forward the beauty of an entire region, guided not by opportunism but by a long-term, decade-driven vision.

Kourtidis Group is experiencing significant business expansion across Northern Greece. Yet, both the company and its President have always maintained a notably low profile. Is this a conscious choice and part of your personal philosophy?

I would say that all these years we have been deliberately committed to doing the work, not talking about it. Publicity was never our goal. Our projects—our footprint—were always the best possible answer to anything that could be said.

The truth is that this low profile was never a “communication strategy.” It was a mindset. When you are trained to operate with integrity, discipline, and respect, you don’t seek the spotlight—you seek results.

And today, as the Group has grown and moved far beyond the limits of the local market, I believe that outward communication done with seriousness, structure, and substance is not just necessary. It is a responsibility. Not to validate ourselves, but to inspire. To demonstrate that you can remain loyal to your land, your values, and your people, and still create something remarkable.

Mr. Nikos Kourtidis is often described as a self-made entrepreneur. How did it all begin?

Everything began in a small village, Nea Fyli, a place that never handed anything to you easily. That is where I learned the meaning of effort, of waking up before dawn and returning home only once you had given your best that day.

I grew up next to a father who worked silently, with dignity and determination. From him I learned to love my land, to respect my people, and to never fear hard work no matter how demanding it is.

When I founded OIKO Kourtidis in 1996, nothing was guaranteed. No capital, no network, no “easy doors.” What existed was faith. That is where the vision was born. Very quickly, through large-scale developments, strong collaborations, and a broad base of clients from dozens of countries, we built something big and truly unique. We had already delivered more than 750 holiday homes to satisfied owners, including one standout project of the time, “Panorama” a model residential complex of 120 homes with private pools and green roofs.

In 2012, when Greece was facing its toughest period, I saw something different. I saw opportunity within the crisis. Not an opportunity to profit, but to build. That same year I met Konstantina Dimitrova. Together with today’s Vice President of the Group, we launched our first real estate office through RE/MAX at a time when few would have dared.

Out of uncertainty, the purest part of my vision emerged: to create a Group that would not simply sell homes, but a way of living. Because a home is not just square meters, it’s roots, security, and aspiration.

How did you achieve the goals you set, and what business decisions do you consider the key “ingredients” of your success?

If I had to summarize it in one sentence, I would say: never forget why you started.

When you begin to build for numbers instead of for people, you lose your compass, and I never wanted that.

From day one, we said that growth cannot be individualistic. If it doesn’t benefit the region and the people around us, it has no meaning. After all, what is the value of progress if everything around you stays the same?

Our strategy was always to invest where others saw no potential in places beautiful but overlooked. To embrace them, elevate them, and transform them into destinations with identity and value. And we succeeded because we never moved opportunistically, but with long-term vision.

Can you describe the current profile of Kourtidis Group? Why is it considered a successful development case study in Northern Greece?

Kourtidis Group today stands as one of the most notable examples of sustained growth in Northern Greece. It has been characterized as a case study by many, having transformed previously unknown locations into modern tourist and investment destinations. Over time, it has evolved into a fully vertically integrated business Group operating across four main pillars: Construction, Real Estate, Investments, and Hospitality.

With more than 3,500 delivered homes and over 1,820 currently in progress, Kourtidis Group has played a decisive role in reshaping the coastal front of Eastern Macedonia from the Strymonian Gulf all the way to Thassos.

Are there new investments currently underway, and how do they reflect the Group’s vision?

At present, Kourtidis Group is at a mature and ambitious investment stage, strengthened first and foremost by an exceptional team that continues to expand. Beyond our skilled in-house executives, we are now joined by top professionals from across Greece and by 500 additional partners from 34 different countries. Their trust, knowledge, and passion are what allow us to envision the future.

Most importantly, our long-term vision is defined by responsible development, one that avoids overtourism and leverages innovation to create a strong green and smart footprint. Yes, we aim to realize landmark investments and signature projects, but without compromising our philosophy. The kind of “development” that carries our signature must be sustainable, balanced, and future-proof.

Collectively, our projects are designed to bring together the entire productive ecosystem of the wider region.

Source: https://www.capital.gr/epixeiriseis/3954143/omilos-kourtidi-metamorfonontas-perioxes-me-orama/