John Carras studied economics in Lausanne and subsequently became a principal in the London office of Angelos Lusi CBE.

Delivery of the tanker Tini in 1952 ordered from Hitachi, marked the start of a huge influx of Greek business for Japan's nascent shipbuilding industry.

In the late 1960s the fleet of the J. C. Carras group of companies attained its zenith, with 34 ships of an overall capacity of approximately 640,000 dwt.

Carras initially controlled a mixed fleet of bulkers and tankers, which subsequently became alldry, including 11 Greek flagged capesizes and a number of panamaxes.

During that time he was also involved in the real estate and tourist business and bought an extended area in Sithonia, Chalkidiki peninsula in northern Greece and in 1963 he started constructing a tourist resort, known as Porto Carras, which became one of the most famous holiday resorts in Greece.