Harry Theoharis was born on August 6, 1970, in Athens, Greece, where he was also raised.
He pursued his studies in the United Kingdom at the prestigious Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine in London, earning an MEng in Software Engineering (Honors) in 1993. Following his graduation, he spent a decade in London’s financial district (the City) as a senior executive in leading corporations and innovative startups.
Upon returning to Greece, he took on senior roles in the private sector, contributing significantly to the organizations he served.
In 2011, during the peak of Greece’s economic crisis, Harry Theoharis was appointed Secretary-General for Information Systems. His mission was to drive the digital transformation of Greece’s public sector. Despite limited resources, his initiatives between 2011 and 2012 proved transformative, simplifying dozens of bureaucratic processes and saving time, energy, and money for both the public sector and citizens.
Later, he served as Secretary-General for Public Revenue at the Ministry of Finance, overseeing critical reforms amidst a worsening economic crisis. Notably, he reorganized Greece’s tax offices, introduced new e-services to reduce bureaucracy and combat tax evasion, and implemented systems enabling tax payments through banks and online services instead of physical tax offices. He also created the platform www.publicrevenue.gr, providing transparency and accountability in public revenue management.
As head of the General Secretariat for Public Revenue, he managed over 10,000 public servants, ensuring the smooth and effective transition of the Secretariat into an independent authority, today’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).
Harry Theoharis entered politics in January 2015, being elected as a Member of Parliament. From 2019 to 2021, he served as Greece’s Minister of Tourism under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
His tenure as Minister coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, the worst crisis in the history of global tourism. Despite the unprecedented challenges, he implemented a multifaceted strategy combining innovative health protocols and a creative campaign to position Greece as a safe travel destination. As a result, Greece was among the first countries to reopen its tourism sector in spring 2021, regaining international prestige and economic benefits.
During this period, his efforts earned Greece numerous awards and recognition in the global tourism market. He chaired the European Committee of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and proposed the establishment of a crisis management technical committee, which he led, to promote best practices during this challenging time. This committee supported Greece’s initiative for a digital travel certificate, which was later adopted by the European Union.
In addition to crisis management, he introduced reforms to promote thematic tourism (e.g., gastronomy, medical, and conference tourism), extended Greece’s tourism season, and developed sustainable tourism policies. He also led initiatives to modernize Greece’s cruise industry and championed green investments in tourism infrastructure.
After his term as Minister of Tourism, Harry Theoharis served as Parliamentary Representative for the ruling New Democracy party (2021–2023) and was re-elected as MP for South Athens in the May and June 2023 elections.
In June 2023, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance, responsible for taxation. During his tenure, he accelerated reforms such as integrating POS systems with cash registers and revising tax policies for freelancers. These initiatives prioritized transparency, efficiency, and fairness, while creating a more investment-friendly environment. His efforts to combat tax evasion resulted in an estimated recovery of €1.8 billion in 2024.
A New Challenge: UNWTO Secretary-General Candidacy
In the fall of 2024, Harry Theoharis took on a new challenge: running for Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with the endorsement of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. His vision is to lead a global effort for a more dynamic, modern, digital, and effective UNWTO, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and innovation.
Harry Theoharis’s extensive experience in public administration, crisis management, and tourism policy uniquely positions him to make a significant impact on the future of global tourism.
Short CV
Born August 6, 1970, in Athens.
Mr. Harry Theoharis was first elected in 2015 and on December 18, 2018, he joined the New Democracy party.
Mr. Theoharis holds an MEng (Hon) in Software Engineering from Imperial College, London, and has held high-ranking positions in private sector companies in Greece and abroad. He has also worked in start-up companies.
During 2011-2012, Mr. Theoharis served as Secretary General for Information Systems and is known for introducing new digital services to assist the public, helping to reduce bureaucracy and its associated costs.
He later (2013-14) served as Secretary General for Public Revenues at the Greek Finance Ministry. There, he succeeded in meeting budget revenues and producing a fiscal surplus. He is also known for launching the www.publicrevenue.gr platform to increase transparency in public administration.
From 2019 to 2021, he served as Minister of Tourism, where he focused on rejuvenating Greece’s tourism sector, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting sustainable practices and digital transformation. He was also the Parliamentary Spokesperson for the New Democracy political party from 2021 to 2023.
In the national elections of May and June 2023, he was re-elected Member of Parliament with the New Democracy political party. On June 27, 2023, Mr. Theoharis was appointed by Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis as Deputy Minister of Finance of Greece for taxation matters, a position he held until June 2024. During his tenure, he prioritized transparency, efficiency, and fairness in the tax system, while fostering an investment-friendly environment.
He is married to Dimitra Rigogianni and is the father of four children.
