The ceremony began with an address by the Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michael Sfakianakis, and was followed by the presentation of the commendation speech (Laudatio) by the Chair of the Department of Business Administration, Professor Dimitrios Georgakellos.
The Rector of the University of Piraeus, Professor Michael Sfakianakis in his opening speech stated that the title of honorary doctorate is an honor that Universities bestow to special people, whose actions are codified in a system of best practices with guiding value for young people and society. Alexandros Sarrigeorgiou, whom we honor today, absolutely fulfills all of the above. His professional path and leadership is characterized by a mixture of target focusing, calculated risk, innovation, dedication to the goal, faith in people, discipline and strong will, interwoven with a steady and continuous effort. This is a modest but also militant leader who emerges not only as a model of entrepreneurship and efficient administration but also as an example of an important social worker, contributing to the development and cohesion of our country.
The Chair of the Department of Business Administration, Professor Dimitrios Georgakellos presented the commendation speech (Laudatio) of the awardee’s work, welcoming him to the circle of Honorary Doctors of the University of Piraeus. His multi-level action actively and decisively contributed to the promotion of Greek entrepreneurship, offering at the same time important services to society and his homeland. From the insurance industry and the Asset Management sector, to the Allianz Group, Eurolife, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd, as President of the Association of Insurance Companies of Greece, as Vice President of Insurance Europe, with his active participation in the Boards of organizations and companies of different sectors, up to his commitment to actions supporting the sustainability and good quality of life of the citizens of Greek society, in a number of axes, such as culture, education, entrepreneurship, gender equality and dealing with the low birth rate in the borderland regions of Greece supporting local communities.

The awarding ceremony ended with the speech of the honoree, who thanked the University and the Department for the honor they had bestowed upon him and in a modest way shared with those present his own "life lessons", thoughts about the role of a leader including the things that really have value in life, like the family from which a man acquires his principles and values, to the importance of an open mind, to the value of a mentor who shows him new paths, to having faith and optimism and finally to basing his success on human relationships and the power of giving.
Addressing the students in particular, he emphasized that "and Greece, for a well-qualified young person, can be the country that will provide you with opportunities, the country where you learn and the place where you will create".
In closing, he stated that he derives the greatest satisfaction in his life from his contribution to society, giving as an example the smiling faces of the young children he recently saw in Halki, where Eurolife FFH inaugurated the first daycare center on the island, as part of the joint of action with HOPEgenesis against subfertility.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of politics, a number of eminent personalities from the entire spectrum of the country's business life, academic and administrative staff and a number of students.