Effie Panagopoulos, a Boston native and Boston College alum with a degree in French/Romance Languages, defied expectations by becoming the first Greek woman to found a liquor brand. Her unconventional journey in the spirits industry includes over 15 years of marketing and selling well-known brands like Chambord, Bacardi, Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, Metaxa, and Disaronno. Effie’s pivotal role as the National Brand Ambassador for METAXA marked a turning point, bringing her back to Greece and rekindling her connection with her heritage.
In 2008, an “eureka moment” at the renowned Mykonos beach bar Nammos sparked Effie’s mission to introduce the Greek spirit experience to the US. This passion led to the creation of KLEOS, Greece’s first luxury spirit brand, with aspirations to become the next Global Greek spirit brand. Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Effie, embodying Spartan values, is a fitness enthusiast, certified personal trainer, and natural bodybuilder. Catch her deadlifting cases of KLEOS in the summertime on Greek islands, seamlessly blending business, fitness, and even stand-up comedy into her vibrant and dynamic lifestyle. Opa!