Speakers
STAVRIANA A. KOFTEROS
Founder, Partner, W11 Ventures
Stavriana A. Kofteros is a Founder and Partner of W11 Ventures, a unique boutique growth advisory and value adding connector of corporates with the innovation ecosystem, geared to genuine value creation and growth. She is a member of the Executive Board, Techisland Health Cluster Committee. She is the former Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Research Innovation Foundation, the national Research and Innovation fund of Cyprus, member of the Investment Jury Committee of the European Innovation Council (EIC) €10bn EIC Fund for European deeptech startups and an EIC Ambassador. She has been active in the local and international startup ecosystem, as Cofounder and President of Startup Cyprus, a member of EU’s Innovation Ecosystem Leaders Group, member of the European Digital Leaders Network of the World Economic Forum, and member of the Innovation Advisory Board of the Biosense Institute in Serbia (foodtech, agtech, food security). She is a Cofounder of the European Startup Network, and has served as Vice President and was a member of the Transatlantic Council of Allied for Startups, Brussels based startup advocacy organizations.
EVGENIOS
EVGENIOU
Chairman, Invest Cyprus
Evgenios Evgeniou is Chairman of Invest Cyprus since June 2022. He is a member of the Council of the University of Cyprus and of the National Board for Research and Innovation. He was Chairman and CEO of PwC Cyprus from 2012-2021 and Member of the Leadership Team of PwC EMEA, representing fifteen European territories from 2014 -2021. He provided services to the Financial Services and Energy sectors and he participated in the study on the long-term economic strategy for Cyprus, “Vision 2035”. He has an engineering degree from Imperial College, London and he is a Fellow Chartered Accountant.
CHRISTOS
TOOULAS
Partner in Accounting, Compliance and Reporting, Ernst & Young Cyprus Ltd
Christos Tooulas holds a degree in Applied Accounting and is a Fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). He is also a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC) and he is currently a member of the Administrative Services Committee. Christos started his career in 2007 in a Big4 firm and joined EY Cyprus in 2018 in the Accounting, Compliance and Reporting (ACR) department. He is also an active member of the Private Client Services (PCS) network of EY. Throughout his career, Christos was involved in the offering of corporate support services such as entity compliance & governance services, company administration services, accounting and financial reporting as well as private client services to a diversified portfolio of international clients (Corporations and High Net Worth individuals) spread across several industries and countries.
ANDREAS PAPAGAVRIEL
Director, Tax Services, Baker Tilly South East Europe
Andreas Papagavriel is a member of ICAEW. He also holds the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT) from the CIOT in the UK. Andreas holds the position of Director in the Tax Services Department of Baker Tilly Cyprus. He has experience in international tax planning and on structuring operations and transactions for international clients in various industries. Furthermore, he has extensive experience in providing tax transaction advisory to both local and international clients with operations in Cyprus and abroad. He has also been involved with several due diligence projects concentrating on direct and indirect tax issues in a variety of industries.
DEMOSTHENES MAVRELLIS
Partner, Chrysses Demetriades & Co. LLC
Demosthenes is a recognized Equity Capital Markets and Banking and Finance practitioner, specializing in advising companies and underwriters in connection to IPOs in European and other markets, including Nasdaq in addition to advising borrowers in regard to major cross-border syndicated loans, both internationally and locally, high yield bond issues and hybrid transactions as well as pursuing an interest in the expanding field of energy related projects, focusing on the Cyprus off-shore exploration, alternative energy infra-structure and investment. Demosthenes had in the past served as risk and compliance director of Chrysses Demetriades and takes a keen interest in international developments in AML procedures and financial technology. Further he has taken an interested in advising European corporations to comply with their obligations under EU imposed sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Demosthenes has taken a keen interest in Energy Investment and regulation having advised a consortium bidding for the first round of offshore hydrocarbon exploration. More recently, he has advised a UK fund in regard to its investment in the Cypriot windfarm infrastructure by way of acquisition of the island’s largest windfarm project as well as advising it in refinancing the same through a local bank. Demosthenes has served as a Director of the Cyprus University of Technology, a post to which he was appointed by the President of the Republic. He has also served as honorary Treasurer in the Executive Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham Cyprus), where he is still a member of the Board of Director. He is currently also a Director of the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and a member of the council of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce.
RIGINOS
POLYDEFKIS
Director, Head of Immigration Services Ernst & Young Cyprus Ltd
Riginos Polydefkis is a Director and the Head of Immigration Services at EY Cyprus since 2018. With over 17 years of experience in the Civil Registry, Migration and Immigration Services, Riginos has been instrumental in pioneering advancements in all types of residence and work permits. At EY Cyprus he is responsible for forming tailor-made solutions for relocation projects for individuals and corporations. He holds a BSc in History and Archaeology and an MSc In Modern, Contemporary and European History from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Previously, he served as the Head of Citizens Service Section at the Civil Registry and Migration Department and was a Member of the European Issues Section of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus and the Chairman of the Migration, Integration and Expulsion Working Group of the Council of the EU.
PHIVOS STASOPOULOS
Chief Banking Officer, Hellenic Bank
Born in 1967 in Cyprus, Phivos Stasopoulos has extensive experience in the accounting and banking industries. After graduating from the University of Manchester with a B.A. in Accounting, Finance and Econometrics, he joined KPMG in the UK, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He returned to Cyprus to join Bank of Cyprus as Head of Debt Recovery. After serving in various posts, he became General Manager as Head of Corporate Banking. He left the Bank at the end of 2013 and for a period of almost 2 years he was providing financial advice to reputable Cyprus companies, primarily for debt restructuring. He is a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). He joined Hellenic Bank in April 2016 where he held the position of General Manager Business Division and was responsible for the Bank’s Corporate and SME portfolio. Since August 2021, he holds the position of Chief Banking Officer, responsible for the whole spectrum of Customer related activities and products (Corporate, SME, Retail, International ,Shipping, Products).
RONI
ALONI
Managing Director of Cyprus & Greece, Leonardo Hotels & Resorts Mediterranean – Member of FATTAL HOTEL GROUP
Roni Aloni brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as the Managing Director of Fattal Hotel Management in the Mediterranean since March 2017. In this pivotal position, Mr. Aloni directs the operations across Cyprus and Greece for the Fattal Group of Hotels. His visionary leadership has propelled the success of the Leonardo Mediterranean Hotels and Resorts brand, overseeing the management and operation of an impressive portfolio of hotels in both Cyprus and Greece. Mr. Roni Aloni’s strategic leadership and commitment to excellence continue to drive the success and expansion of Fattal Hotel Management in the Mediterranean.
NIMROD BOROVITZ
CEO of Borovitz Mozes Group & Major Shareholder of TUS Airways
Nimrod Borovitz, certified accountant (CPA), is serving today as the CEO of BMG (Borovitz Mozes Group)- a leading holding company in Israel that amongst others, holds Knafaim Group – a public company in Israel , a group with more than 40 years of experience in the field of aviation, airlines & aircraft leasing worldwide. The group is one of the major shareholder at TUS Airways and until 2024 Nimrod served as TUS’ chairman of the board The group was for more than 15 years (until 2020) the main shareholder of EL AL Israel Airlines. Nimrod served for many years as a Chief strategy, fleet planning & acquisitions at EL AL Israel airlines.
EINAT ZAKARIYA
CEO & Partner, EWAVE Group Cyprus, Liv Collection
CEO and Partner at Liv Collection, a subsidiary of Ewave Cyprus, with extensive experience in establish[1]ing and managing luxury residential and resort brands. Proficient in project management, marketing, investor relations, and team leadership both domestically and internationally.
STELIOS AMERICANOS
Managing Partner, Stelios Americanos & Co LLC
Mr. Stelios Americanos is the managing partner of Stelios Americanos & Co LLC. He graduated from the Law School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, admitted to the Cyprus Bar in 1991and is a practicing lawyer since then. He has extensive experience in advising on corporate and banking finance matters of complex joint-ventures and “cross-border” structures and transactions, real estate and international tax planning. His clients include local and international groups of companies, banking and finance institutions and high-net-worth individuals. He is a highly recommended lawyer by all the International legal directories. Mr. Americanos has contributed a number of articles on legal developments in professional journals.
GEORGE
CHRYSOCHOS
Executive Director, Cyfield Group
George Chrysochos is one of the Directors of Cyfield Group. He has been involved with the family business from a very young age, serving in all sectors of the business. Before joining the family business full time, he had worked in the United States and Greece, as a consultant for Navigant and Mckinsey & Company. He gained experience in multiple functions including strategy and operations, mergers and acquisitions and organizational restructuring in various industries. While working as a consultant he had day to day involvement with Cyfield, participating in key strategic and operational decisions. Upon his return, he led the Group in breaking into the Energy market.
BRIAN J.C.
OSBORNE
Business Development Manager, Leptos Estates
Brian JC Osborne has charted an impressive career that spans multiple continents and industries. Brian works with High-Net-Worth clients from across the globe. His extensive travels have taken him to over 100 countries, each destination adding depth to his understanding of global markets. Over the past two years, he has taken the lead as the Head of Sales for the Israeli market, achieving remarkable success in a highly competitive landscape. His ability to connect with clients and understand their unique needs has made him an asset to the Leptos Group and has allowed him to build lasting relationships in Israel.
MELINA
RAFTI
Business Development Director & Board Member, Korantina Homes
Melina Rafti is the General Manager of Korantina Homes, a property developing company specializing in exclusive properties. Melina has an extensive experience and expertise in the Real Estate sector, serving the industry in different managerial positions for more than 20 years.
KYRIACOS MICHAELIDES
Chief Wealth & International Banking Officer, Alpha Bank Cyprus Ltd
Studied in New York obtaining a BBA degree in Finance & Investments and an MBA in Financial Services. Worked at a large Asset Management company and at a project for the City of New York, before returning to Cyprus to join the local banking sector. He held management positions in various banks in all areas of banking, including Retail, Corporate, International, and Investment Banking, as well as Wealth Management, gaining rich knowledge and experience of the financial services spectrum. He joined Alpha Bank Cyprus in 2023 as the Chief Wealth & International Banking Officer.
CHARIS ASSIOTIS
Executive Director, Head of Portfolio Management & Funds Manager, Eurofast
Charis Assiotis is the Executive Director, Head of Portfolio Management, and Funds Manager at Eurofast, currently serving at Mega Ploutos Fund Management Ltd in Nicosia, Cyprus, since January 2022. He oversees fund strategy, investment portfolios, and compliance with anti-money
laundering regulations. Previously, he held leadership roles at Mega Ploutos AIF Variable Capital Investment Company PLC and played a key role in a top Cyprus Investment Firm from 2000 to 2020. Charis has an MBA in Finance from The University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Finance from Concordia University, along with several professional certifications, including CySEC Advanced and AML.
CHRISTOS THEOFILOU
Partner, Taxand Cyprus
Christos is a tax attorney with a strong accounting and international tax background. He advises clients on complex matters such as cross-border investments, private equity structuring, structured finance, IP structuring, and international trade. Christos holds an MSc in Tax Law from Oxford
University, a bachelor’s degree in economics, and an LLB Law. He is a Chartered Accountant in England & Wales and holds the Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT). Christos contributes to international tax publications and co-authored “Pillar Two of the Inclusive Framework on BEPS.” He is also a freelance lecturer and frequent speaker at international tax conferences.
MARIA
IOANNOU
Head of Business Development Unit, ECOMMBX
Maria Ioannou, as Business Development Junior Director at ECOMMBX, designs and implements strategies with her team to enhance the company’s competitiveness. With many years of experience in the fintech sector and electronic payments, she highlights and promotes ECOMMBX’s advantages by participating in various business events in Cyprus and abroad, simultaneously bolstering activities that contribute to the optimization of the company’s communication and recognition. Her multifaceted responsibilities include attracting new clients as well as maintaining and enriching successful professional relationships with existing customers and partners.
