George Spyrou
Encyclopedia
George Andrew Rankin Spyrou (April 14, 1949–February 27, 2010) was a Scottish
businessman. Spyrou was the president of Airship Management Services
(AMS) and had affiliations with other airship
companies.
Born in Glasgow
, Scotland
, Spyrou attended private schools in England
and Connecticut
before he entered Harvard University
. He obtained his law degrees from Christ's College, Cambridge
, and specialized in international and maritime law. He was admitted to the English Bar (Inner Temple
) in 1980. He worked for law firms in New York City
then as a corporate counsel in Monaco
. Spyrou began work for Airship Industries Ltd.
(AIL) in 1982, and he moved to the United States to head international operations for AIL's commercial clients in 1987.
AIL went into receivership
in September 1990 under heavy financial pressure, and its assets were eventually obtained by Northrup Grumman. Spyrou founded AMS three months later, with the financial support of Sojitz
, Fujifilm
, and TCom.
AMS is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut
, and has a FAA repair station and technical facility in Elizabeth City, North Carolina
. The company specializes in airship advertising campaigns, and has run successful campaigns for several corporate and government clients.
Spyrou was a member of Inner Temple, the Airship Association (UK), the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
, and was active in Harvard and Christ's College affairs.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
businessman. Spyrou was the president of Airship Management Services
Airship Management Services
Airship Management Services, Inc. builds, owns and operates Airship Industries Skyship and Sentinel type airships. AMS, run by George Spyrou, and through associated companies in the U.S., Europe and Japan, provides technical and operational support to airships worldwide...
(AMS) and had affiliations with other airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
companies.
Born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Spyrou attended private schools in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
before he entered Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He obtained his law degrees from Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, and specialized in international and maritime law. He was admitted to the English Bar (Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
) in 1980. He worked for law firms in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
then as a corporate counsel in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. Spyrou began work for Airship Industries Ltd.
Airship Industries
Airship Industries was a British manufacturer of modern non-rigid airships active under that name from 1980 to 1990 and controlled for part of that time by Alan Bond. A predecessor company, Aerospace Developments, had been founded in 1971, and a successor, Hybrid Air Vehicles, remains active...
(AIL) in 1982, and he moved to the United States to head international operations for AIL's commercial clients in 1987.
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
in September 1990 under heavy financial pressure, and its assets were eventually obtained by Northrup Grumman. Spyrou founded AMS three months later, with the financial support of Sojitz
Sojitz
is a trading corporation based in Tokyo, Japan. It operates in many industries, including construction, forestry, plastics, chemicals, mining, petroleum, textiles, and international trade. Sojitz also participates in joint ventures with foreign companies in Japan....
, Fujifilm
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
, and TCom.
AMS is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
, and has a FAA repair station and technical facility in Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County....
. The company specializes in airship advertising campaigns, and has run successful campaigns for several corporate and government clients.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society , founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society , and the Institute...
, and was active in Harvard and Christ's College affairs.