John Lazarou
John Lazarou is one of three Directors of The Coffee Club, Australia’s largest and fastest growing locally-owned café group. Known for his flamboyant ways and creative edge John, together with his partners and their team, has seen The Coffee Club grow to more than 300 stores across Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, China, New Caledonia and now Egypt.
John is well known as a public figure with a passion for marketing, public relations and helping others. He can often be found moving about the media and entertainment circuit, enjoying the friendships that he has developed. John has used his profile and position in The Coffee Club to pursue his passion as a philanthropist and spokesperson for many causes; The Coffee Club is a Foundation Member of Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia (CHFA), which is the national fundraising partnership of our children’s hospitals across Australia dedicated to excellence in children’s health. John’s efforts have no doubt added to the success of this charity by helping to raise millions of dollars and by establishing The Coffee Club’s own fundraising initiative, “changing children’s lives”.
John also walked the Great Wall of China with Olivia Newton John and many others to fundraise and create awareness of the various cancer treatments which have been successful in Australia. Since then Olivia Newton John has asked John to join her as one of her Ambassadors for The Olivia Newton John Cancer and Wellness Centre.
The Coffee Club’s first store opened in Brisbane’s CBD at Eagle Street Pier on 2 November 1989. Together with his partners, Emmanuel Drivas and Emmanuel Kokoris, they have managed to take the original concept of The Coffee Club and turn it into an Australian iconic household name and continue to grow the brand internationally.