1985 - The price of success
Production continues to increase, but Leonidas achieves something extraordinary: he sends a message to stakeholders not to ask for new stores to be opened, as production can no longer cope. This testifies to the growing popularity of Leonidas products and the desire to maintain quality despite significant demand.
In 1985, Jean-Yanni Kestekoglu decided for health reasons to step down from the management of the company, giving way to the third generation to take the torch. His daughter, Maria Kesdekoglu-Kestekides, took over the company with her first cousin Yanni. In 1992, she would be joined by her first cousin, Vasiliki Kestekidou, in the management of the company. Subsequently, Ms. Maria's brother, Mr. Dimitrios Kestekoglu, decided in 2004 to join them in the management of the company, thereby ending his career as an ophthalmologist to contributed to ensuring the continuity of this great legacy. At the beginning of 2004, he took over the responsibility as managing director of the management of Leonidas in order to prepare the transition from a family business to a professional management. In 2005, at his suggestion, an internal audit committee was established for the first time, assisted by an internal auditor, of which Dimitrios became a member. He served as chairman of the board in 2004, 2006, 2008 and from 2011 to 2014.
Currently, Ms. Maria, CEO Vasiliki and Mr. Dimitrios are members of Leonidas' board of directors and their children are preparing to take over.