At Hazera, we are proud of our dedicated team, which works passionately to provide our growers with the best products. While we tend to put our products in the headlines, it is the Hazera team who are behind our success. Let’s shine the spotlight on Giannis Grammatikakis, Product Development Manager from Heraklion, Greece.
Giannis Grammatikakis (51) lives in Heraklion, Greece with his wife and two children. His professional journey began at a local agricultural shop in the Tympaki area of Crete, then he joined the distribution team at Bayer Chemicals in Crete. For several years, he worked with a seed company that served as the distributor for Syngenta Seeds, Fito Seeds, and Gautier Seeds in Greece. His experience primarily revolves around fieldwork, including both open-field and greenhouse cultivation (without heating). Giannis joined the Hazera Greece team five years, and he has been covering the entire country as a Product Development Manager. Based on his experience, he specializes in the cultivation of Tomato, Cucumber, Peppers, Eggplants, and Melon varieties.
In your opinion, what is the most important personality trait someone should have to work in your industry?
“In my industry, the key personality strength for success is having a specific goal and persistence. Achieving business goals, especially in competitive areas like seed businesses, often requires years of dedication. If you want to be successful in our industry, you need to be able to identify your product’s unique advantages and secure market shares.”
Tell us about a project you’re proud of and why.
“One project that stands out for me is the development and introduction of the new ToBRFV hybrids, Thireos (in 2023) and Lollipop (in 2024), to the Greek market.” Says Giannis with a proud face. “ToBRFV, a novel tomato virus, poses significant challenges for greenhouse tomato producers. Hazera’s research program provided me with the opportunity to discover and introduce Thireos, the beef tomato hybrid, and Lollipop, the mini plum tomato. Improving greenhouse tomato yield while maintaining cultivation satisfaction made this project truly rewarding!”
What does “Hazera- Growing Together” mean to you?
“For me, Hazera- Growing Together embodies the spirit of collaboration, progress, and shared success. It’s about working together to innovate, build partnerships, and grow. We work together, stay dedicated, and keep learning to create an environment, where everyone can contribute. For example, to get a successful hybrid, breeders, product developers, product managers, marcom employees, and salespeople must work together.”
Tell us something about you the most people don’t know.
“After a tough and demanding workweek, going fishing on my boat calms me down and I find peace in the quietness of the sea.”
Do you want to stay connected with our Hazera people?
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