Prominent businessman Giorgos Mylonas is embraced by a well-wisher yesterday after talking to the press about his 13 days in captivity. Mylonas, who was kidnapped on June 9 outside his Thessaloniki home, said he would step down as president of Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SVVE) to spend more time with his family.

A prominent industrialist abducted just under two weeks ago in Thessaloniki was released unharmed in the early hours of yesterday morning by his kidnappers, who reportedly pocketed a 12-million-euro ransom.

Giorgos Mylonas, 49, the president of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (SVVE) and the chief executive of the aluminum firm Alumil, said his kidnappers dropped him off several kilometers to the north of the northern city, giving him the keys to a stolen car to drive himself home.

Mylonas told reporters that he was well-treated during his 13 days in captivity but refused to give details about his experience or specify the amount his family paid in ransom, which was confirmed by police. “The conditions of my detention were very respectable... I do not feel tired or exhausted,” he said, noting that the motive behind the abduction was purely that of financial gain. “It was done for money, ransom,” he said.

Mylonas said he had “limited contact” with his abductors, whom he described as Greek and “professionals,” adding that they were “polite and gave me everything I wanted.”

The industrialist, who appeared calm and relieved, repeatedly expressed his gratitude to police and to his wife for handling negotiations with the kidnappers, whose original ransom demand had been 30 million euros. Mylonas was released after his wife deposited the cash in a parking lot at the coastal resort of Makriyiali, police said. “She was amazing, keeping a cool head the entire time,” Mylonas said of his spouse. He said he would step down as president of SVVE to spend more time with his wife and three children. Police have not revealed any details about the identity of the perpetrators.