Yesterday’s heritage, eyes fixed on the future

Geo Pavlides Group set out in 1929 when Georgios Pavlides (founder of the Group) began his commercial activities. Following the end of WW2 in 1945, Pavlides made a life decision, marking the starting point of the story; he establishes Geo Pavlides Ltd which launches its business activity by taking over the import to Cyprus and sales of Chevrolet and Vauxhall, as a representative of American automotive industry General Motors.
Initially, Geo Pavlides Ltd houses its central offices in Limassol, but also maintains a workshop on Victorias street in Nicosia, where people could also see the Chevrolet and Vauxhall vehicles.

Over time the company grows and expands, but always maintaining the spirit of an endeavour built on the principles of its founder, Georgios Pavlides, a man who believed in family values. Married to Athanasia, Georgios Pavlides had seven children; Vyronas, Christoforos, Spyros (a well known radiologist in Limassol), Pavlos (who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1955), Christina, Ypatia and Maria.

Vyron and Christoforos

In 1954, having completed their studies on financial and commercial issues, Vyron Pavlides and Christoforos Pavlides joined the company as CEO and CFO respectively. In the same family spirit that the company was founded and took its first steps, the two brothers lead the company to more sales success, opening up new horizons. Vyronas was the sales expert, with Christoforos the financial manager.
With Vyronas and Christoforos at the Geo Pavlides helm, dealerships multiply. In 1957, OPEL is added to the company’s range and the necessary corporate steps were taken. The company now provides the public with additional options, both in passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles and trucks. This development leads to the opening of the Evagorou Avenue showroom in Nicosia.

The first blow

Following the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960, economic recovery begins, but as the situation settles, the 1963-1964 events lead to a sudden halt.

During this difficult period of inter-communal strife, in 1964, the Victorias road garage, a workshop considered as the most modern in Cyprus at the time, was lost, as it came under Turkish-Cypriot control, along with the newly built company offices.

But in spite this setback and remaining true to its founders’ work ethic, honesty, vision for the future and perception, the company remains on a dynamic course and before the end of the decade it records yet another landmark in its history, culminating in 1969.
On January 1st 1969, Geo Pavlides & Araouzos is established, partnered by Hull Blyth Araouzos and with Vyronas and Christoforos Pavlides, along with Michalis and Spyros Araouzos taking over as CEOs.
Pavlides and Araouzos, two well known and established families in the local business community, join forces, opening up yet another dynamic. Geo Pavlides & Araouzos sets off on its great course, already having Bedford, Vauxhall, Opel, Terex Diggers and Poclain in the range of vehicles offered, while Geo Pavlides Ltd continues in the real estate field.

New privately owned offices

In 1969, Vyron Pavlides secured new privately owned offices. The company buys an area on Faidras street in Kaimakli, which continues to house the Group’s workshop and autoparts and accessories, to this day. In 1971, the grand opening of the offices was held in a spirit of great joy and optimism, with distinguished guests attending, such as General Motors representatives from the USA, Vauxhall representatives from the UK and OPEL officials from Germany.
It was extensively covered in the local press: ‘GEO PAVLIDES AND ARAOUZOS has built a modern garage and offices’, ‘The garage is equipped with the latest tools-It will be offering 24 hour service’, ‘A perfect car garage’.

The 2nd major blow

No one could have foreseen the shattering 1974 summer for Cyprus. The company takes a second major blow, as the Turkish invasion takes in out of business for six months.

Internal changes

In 1972, Michalis Araouzos leaves the company and is replaced by Andreas Araouzos, son of Spyros Araouzos (CEO). Georgios Pavlides, son of Dr. Spyros Pavlides (who also served as President of the Cyprus Car Association from 1993 to 2005) also takes over as CEO that same year.
In 2006, following the sudden death of Georgios Pavlides at age 60, the company’s administration is taken over by his children Michalis and Spyros Pavlides, who continue as CEOs in a well tuned and successful cooperation with the rest of the CEOs, until December 2015.
Since 1972, the Group has always maintained an upwards trend, providing a great range of options to consumers and a world class credibility through its long time cooperation with top global dealerships.
At the same time, the Geo Pavlides & Araouzos activities expand to other sectors, with the company exclusively representing Pfizer pharmaceuticals (including veterinary medication) from 1950 through to 2016. Michalis Pavlides took over the Pfizer activities in Cyprus since 2002.

The next generation

Spyros and Michalis Pavlides continue to carry a vision going back almost a century.

In 2011, Spyros Pavlides establishes Geo Pavlides Automotive Ltd and remains as CEO of the company to this day, along with his brother Michalis Pavlides.

Expanding activities

Geo Pavlides Automotive has kept expanding throughout its history and includes the following leaderships since 1989:

1989: Renault (buses and trucks)
2004: Saab
2011: Citroen, Mazda, Subaru
2018: Peugeot

A landmark in the Geo Pavlides Automotive development was the acquisition of Citroen in 2011, a member of vehicle giant PSA, while led in turn to the acquisition of Peugeot. In 2018, OPEL also becomes a member of the PSA Group.
It is worth noting that the mergers in PSA, with certain of its brands represented by Geo Pavlides Automotive, continued through to 2021, when Stellantis is created, made up of a cross border 50-50 merger between Italian Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and French PSA.

The client comes first

Geo Pavlides Automotive maintains showrooms in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca and resellers in the Famagusta and Paphos districts.
Putting the best possible customer service first, Geo Pavlides Automotive provides authorised workshops in Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol, consisting of highly specialised technicians, who have worked in the car manufacturers abroad.
As the Group notes:
«The company has made sure that the garage crews have all the necessary specialised tools and modern technology equipment available, securing high quality services.
Οne characteristic example is that the company’s vehicle refinishing workshop (body shop) uses innovative digital tools in order to select hues (shade), guaranteeing an excellent repainting result’.

Insurance services and more

In 2013, Geo Pavlides Automotive established GPA Insurance Agencies Ltd, providing insurance services and immediate solutions, mainly to Group clients.
The company sends a clear message:
‘With car market changes shift at frenetic pace both in Cyprus and globally, Geo Pavlides Automotive keeps moving with the times. It dynamically evolves maintaining its values and fundamental beliefs. GPA’s primary concern is to constantly develop and advance its services, such as long term leasing instead of purchasing, through Autonation, a company established in 2010 and focusing on leasing and maintenance packages with a pre-determined cost.
It also provides an extensive guarantee, even beyond what the legislation provides’.

A three pillar vision and a leading role

‘We want GPA to continue its leadership in the motoring sector, providing solutions that satisfy consumer needs as they evolve and change through time’, the company says, adding

‘that the group chooses to consider, approach policies and operate in a framework comprised of three pillars; the members of our team, our clients and the shareholders which constitute fundamental elements for our business, making up its success and resilience over time. Every member if our team plays a vital part in shaping our future and sets out the way we achieve our vision. We have learned to work collectively and this is the way we move ahead’.

‘At Geo.Pavlides Automotive, our own people do share and act on these values and convictions, striving to improve themselves every day. Having inherited the principles on which the vision of a company active for almost a century, was built, we operate with respect to each other in a progressive and optimistic atmosphere working towards the wonderful, new world, that makes up…the future.

The faces of the company

• In 1945, Georgios Pavlides, active in commerce since 1929, established Geo.Pavlides Ltd. He was married to Athanasia and had seven children; Vyronas, Christoforos, Spyros, Pavlos, Christina, Ypatia and Maria.

• In the 1950s. following studies on financial and commercial issues, Vyron and Christoforos Pavlides joined the company as CEO and CFO.
• In 1969, Vyronas and Christoforos Pavlides are joined by Michalis and Spyros Araouzos, children of Andreas Araouzos, the first commerce minister of the Republic of Cyprus and second cousin to former President of the Republic Spyros Kyprianou. This was preceded by the establishment of Geo Pavlides & Araouzos Ltd.

• In 1972, Georgios Pavlides, son to Dr. Spyros Pavlides (Radiologist) takes over as CEO along with Spyros Araouzos.

• Also in 1972, Michalis Araouzos leaves the company and is replaced by Andreas Araouzos, son to Spyros Araouzos.
•  In 2006, following the sudden death of Georgios Pavlides at age 60, the leadership of the company is taken over by his children Michalis and Spyros Pavlides.

Today’s leadership

Heading up the Geo.Pavlides Group today are Michalis and Spyros Pavlides. The CEO Spyros Pavlides graduated from Queen Mary London with a BEng (Hons) in Engineering.

CEO Michalis Pavlides is a holder of a BA (Hons) in History and Politics (Queen Mary Uni), an MA (postgraduate) in International Studies from the SOAS University of London and an MSc (postgraduate) in investment management from the CASS Business School of the City University of London.