Cyprus Professional Services Conference

Melina Pyrgou is the managing director of Pyrgou Vakis Law Firm. An experienced lawyer with 30 years of experience in various firms. An experienced corporate lawyer with strong interpersonal and organisation skills leading a talented team recognised in “Legal 500” EMEA 2021 as “Recommended Lawyer” in the areas of Commercial, Corporate and M&A. An active citizen serving on the Board of the Cyprus Legal Council, the Health Insurance Organisation and Chairman of Committee of Environment, Energy and Investment Programmes.

Dr. Christos Ph. Clerides is the President of the Cyprus Bar. He is a Professor of Law and Head of the Department of Law of Frederick University. He is co-founder of Phoebus Christos Clerides and Associates LLC with his father, now deceased, ex Minister of Justice and Member of the House of Representatives. Dr. Clerides was elected as a member of the House of Representatives 2001-2006. He is a holder of an LL. B Hons (1976) and LL.M 1977 in Maritime Law and Insurance, University College, London and a Ph.D holder in European Law of Kings College (1981). He has been practising in Law since 1982 and he is a litigation advocate.

Chairman, Invest Cyprus

Michalis P. Michael is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency since January 2018. He has a long professional career in business and audit services, both as a sole practitioner and as a Partner in KPMG Cyprus. Michael has a vast experience in the Ukrainian market, and he is the Chairman of the Cyprus-Ukraine Business Association from 2012 until today. Michael has been actively involved with public life since his early career. Formerly, he served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (1996-2000), Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Organisation of Land Development (2000-2003), Member of the Committee for the Supervision and Development of Cooperative Societies (2003-2013). He was also Member of the Board of Directors of The Cyprus University of Technology (2014-2016) where he held the position of Vice-President (July 2016-2018). Michalis is a Chartered Certified Accountant, a Fellow member of the UK Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus, of which he served also as a Member of the Board of Directors.

Evgenios Evgeniou is Chairman of Invest Cyprus, non-executive director in financial services, Chairman of Nicosia for Art, member of the Corporate Governance committee of the ICAEW. Had a 31-year career with PwC, served as Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC Cyprus (2012-2021) and member of the PwC EMEA Leadership (2014 - 2021) representing fifteen European territories. Beyond commercial success, key achievements included: technological transformation; developing the data analytics, Cyber security, and AI capabilities; launching the PwC Experience Centre. An Imperial College London Engineering graduate (BEng), a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), completed the Harvard Direct Leadership program. In 2024 he earned the MA in International Affairs (Strategic Studies) from King's College London and the INSEAD Certificate in Corporate Governance.

Michalis Vasiliou is a Board Member and Head of the Asset Management Services at KPMG in Cyprus. Michalis graduated from the University of Manchester with a first-class degree in Accounting and Finance and is a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (“ICAEW”). He primarily services groups operating within the investment funds and financial services sector. Michalis is also a member of the Department of Professional Practice at KPMG in Cyprus, providing technical support on the correct application of IFRSs requirements. He is a presenter for IFRS seminars to the staff of KPMG, to clients and the public through KPMG Academy. He is also the Chairman of the Investment Funds committee of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Cyprus (ICPAC) and the Chairman of the Alternative Investment Funds committee of the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA).

Demetris holds a BSc. in Computer Science and Accounting (Joint Honours) and is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) in London. He is a Board member of KPMG since 1991, First Vice Chairman of the Board of the Employers and Industrialists Federation of Cyprus (OEB), President of the Cyprus Organization for Standardisation, member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus and of the Cyprus Institute of Internal Auditors of Cyprus, member of the Tech Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and member of the Advisory Board for the School of Economics and Management of the University of Cyprus.

Michael Kammas is since January 2006 the Director General of the Association of Cyprus Banks, a Member of the Executive Committee of the European Banking Federation (EBF), Brussels and a Member of the General Assembly of the European Money Markets Institute (EMMI). Since May 20017 he is also the Chair of the Audit, Budget, and Risk Committee of the EBF. He has been active in academic and professional education, both in Cyprus and in the US. Michael holds a BA Economics and an MA Economics, from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois, USA and a PhD in Economics from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Christos V. Vasiliou started his career at KPMG in Leeds in 1991. He joined KPMG in Cyprus’ Audit department in 1994 and became a Board Member in 1999. Christos has been involved with the audit of large financial institutions including major banks, insurance companies and investment funds. In 2016 he was appointed Deputy Managing Director of KPMG in Cyprus and Managing Director in 2019. He was the Head of the Advisory in KPMG in Cyprus until 2021. He is a member of the Executive Committee of KPMG in Cyprus, a founding member of CIFA (Cyprus Investment Funds Association) and served as a member of the Board of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus for three terms spanning from 2014 to 2023. He is also President of the Cyprus-Australia Business Association.

CEO, Baker Tilly South East Europe

Marios Klitou is the CEO of Baker Tilly South East Europe (Baker Tilly firms in Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Greece) and member of the Board of Directors of Baker Tilly International, President of the Cyprus – Romania Business Association and Honorary Consul of The Republic of Romania in Cyprus. Mr. Klitou is fellow of the ICAEW and the ACCA and of the ICPAC. He is a member of the CAFR and of the CECCAR. In the last 20 years he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the following: Cyprus Development Bank Ltd, Central Bank of Cyprus, Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency, State of Health Services Organisation of Cyprus (Okypy). He has been a member of the Council of Economic Advisers of the President of the Republic of Cyprus

Pieris Markou is the CEO of Deloitte in Cyprus and a member of the Deloitte Middle East Executive Board, having previously served as the Tax & Legal Services Leader. He started his career in London in 1986 and was admitted to Partnership at Chrysanthou and Christoforou (Andersen) in Cyprus in 2000. He is a member of the Council of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus since 2014, and elected President for the period 2021-2023, having previously served as the Vice President of the Council during the period 2019-2021 and Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Tax and VAT Committees. Pieris was an appointed member of the Advisory Council to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, for the establishment of an Independent Authority against Corruption for the period from its establishment until June 2023 and is currently a member of the Advisory Council to the Council of Ministers for the appointment of the board members of the Semi-Government Organisations. Pieris is also a board member of the Nicosia Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Pieris holds a BA in Accounting, is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Stavros Ioannou is the CEO of Grant Thornton in Cyprus. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Drawing from his time with Grant Thornton in the UK, Stavros holds over 30 years of experience in advisory services particularly in financial due diligence in connection with acquisitions and fundraising, flotations and public company transactions.  Stavros has led significant projects relating to the banking industry in Cyprus and acts as relationship partner and quality reviewer on complex advisory engagements. He is a mentor and coach supporting individuals from both within and outside Grant Thornton Cyprus to develop and thrive as professionals and in any other area they are passionate about.  Stavros’ approach to leadership and what he considers to be a core part of the firm’s strategy stems from his personal view that in order to achieve growth in any organisation, people have to come first.

Chairman, EY Cyprus

Stavros Pantzaris is the Chairman of EY Cyprus having served as Country Managing Partner during the period 2015 – 2020. He has over 30 years of experience in Assurance and Advisory Business Services as well as in leading buy-side due diligence projects. Stavros holds a B.Eng. degree (Hons) in Engineering with Industrial Management and is a fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW) and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC). He currently sits on the Board of Directors of ICPAC, the Cyprus Employers and Industrialist Federation, the Nicosia Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Cyprus Seeds.

Elias Neocleous is the Managing Partner of Elias Neocleous & Co LLC, Cyprus’ largest and most progressive international law firm. He is a graduate of Oxford University, a barrister of the Inner Temple, and was admitted to the Cyprus Bar in 1993. Elias has more than thirty years’ experience successfully leading legal teams dealing with large, complex and innovative cross-border transactions. His main areas of practice are banking and finance, company matters, intellectual property law, international trade, tax and trusts and estate planning. Elias is a frequent conference guest speaker with many publications to his credit. He is a strong advocate for utilizing technology to benefit the client and is spearheading the introduction of ALSP to Cyprus via Neolaw.ai.

CO-MANAGING PARTNER, CHRYSOSTOMIDES ADVOCATES & LEGAL CONSULTANTS

George Mountis is the Co-Managing Partner at Chrysostomides Advocates & Legal Consultants and Head of the firm’s Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation department. He has a total of 18 years’ professional experience in various fields of commercial, banking, and corporate litigation, with particular expertise in shareholder disputes, commercial and corporate fraud, interim orders, liquidation proceedings and disputes in relation to international and domestic Trusts. George also advises high net worth individuals and family businesses on succession planning. He has extensive arbitration experience and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCiArb) and an Accredited Mediator (CEDR). He holds an LLB (Hons) from University of Kent at Canterbury, an LLM (Corporate & Commercial Law) from London School of Economics & Political Science and a Diploma on Economics of Competition Law from Kings College London. George is listed among the leading lawyers in Cyprus for Dispute Resolution in international law firm directories Chambers & Partners, and Legal 500 EMEA.

Andri Michael is a Partner in the Financial Services and Funds Department at Kinanis LLC and has been practising law for over 20 years. With extensive experience in Corporate Law, Banking & Finance, and Capital Markets, she is a leading figure in Financial Services and Funds Advisory, Listings, Blockchain Consulting, and Financial and Regulatory Compliance. She is a member of the Cyprus Bar Association and serves as Vice President of its Financial Services Committee. Additionally, Andri has been elected Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of CY.I.T. Cyprus Innovation Technologies. Andri is also a member of the Regulatory Committee of the Cyprus Investment Funds Association. Ms. Michael has contributed to numerous publications on listings, funds, cryptoassets, and blockchain matters.

Kyriacos holds an LL.B. (Hons) and an LL.M. (Hons) in International Business Transactions from University College London, University of London. He qualified as a Barrister with Lincoln’s Inn in 1994 and as an advocate in Cyprus in 1995. Since qualification he has been practicing as a member of Scordis, Papapetrou & Co LLC and is currently the firm’s Managing Partner. Kyriacos has extensive experience and expertise both in international litigation and arbitration as well as on corporate and commercial matters. He is also one of the Firm’s experts on Tax Law & Tax Planning. His resume includes handling claims or appearing before arbitral Tribunals or Courts in Cyprus, Sweden, Russia, Switzerland, the UK and the US, including multi-billion dollar cases: RICO claim, shareholder disputes and corporate/commercial claims. He also advises on a variety of corporate matters including cross-border sales & acquisitions of Cyprus and non-Cyprus assets, shareholder agreements, structuring international acquisitions, trusts, escrow arrangements and tax planning.

Andreas Mercouri is one of the founding Board members of the Cyprus Fiduciary Association (CYFA) and currently acts as its Treasurer. He is the General Manager of Trident Trust Cyprus, with overall responsibility for the strategy and day-to-day operations of the Cyprus business. He joined Trident in 2009 following his previous employment where he has over 6 years’ experience working on specialist corporate recovery and insolvency cases, with exposure to a diverse portfolio of formal insolvency and corporate recovery assignments across various industry sectors in fast-moving business environments. Andreas also worked within the financial investigations’ division of this global firm. Andreas holds a BSc (Hons) in Accounting & Financial Management from Loughborough University in the UK and is also a Fellow Chartered Accountant licensed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales.

Chris Koutouroussis is the Partner in charge of Legal & Corporate Services at Baker Tilly South East Europe since January 2022, following the merger with Bizserve Consultants. His tenure as Managing Director of the latter span for almost 15 years, having joined in April 2007 following a 10-year career in banking (Laiki Bank and Alpha Bank). Chris spent his academic life in the UK. He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Warwick, an MSc in Finance & Economics from Queen Mary and Westfield College of the University of London and an MBA from Warwick Business School. He has been involved with the Cyprus Fiduciary Association for more than a decade, initially, as Head of the International Business Committee. Since June 2014, Chris is a member of the Board of Directors, and in October 2019 he was elected President.

CPA, CEO, CPM

Costas Christoforou joined CPM as General Manager in 2005. Under his leadership, CPM has developed into a leading international service provider operating from Cyprus and offering the best possible tailor-made corporate management and administration solutions to institutional, corporate and private clients. Costas has extensive experience in international business environments, both in Europe and in the USA, particularly in the fields of audit, tax, company administration and investment services.

George Economides is the Vice-Chairman of Totalserve Management Ltd. He is also a partner at E & G Economides LLC, an affiliated full-service law firm based in Cyprus. He is a member of the Private Client Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) and the International Tax Planning Association (ITPA). He also currently serves as Treasurer to the Board of Directors of STEP Cyprus as well as Vice-President to the Cyprus Bar Associations’ committee for Business Relocation. George has also been recognized by the Legal500, a leading legal directory, as a Next-Generation Partner and over the years, has co-authored various publications on consecutive occasions as regards to M&A, tax, trusts and technology/digital business.

Marina Pittalis is the Managing Director of the Opus Group of Companies (“Opus”). She joined Opus in 2005 and oversees its operations. She has vast experience in international and corporate trade finance sectors prior to joining Opus, having worked for a multinational group that is a global force in trade finance industry and quoted on London Stock Exchange. She has special interest in the management and protection of image rights of high-profile personalities. She is a member of several bodies, including the International Fiscal Association (IFA), International Tax Planning Association (ITPA), International Bar Association (IBA), LawInSport, Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP), and International Business Structuring Association (IBSA). She is also the Vice President of the Cyprus Fiduciary Association, the head of Women of IFA Network (WIN), Cyprus branch, and is a speaker at international conferences and forums. Marina studied in UK and holds an MBA degree with specialisation in Finance.

General Manager, International Banking, Hellenic Bank

Kiki Papadopoulou is the General Manager of International Banking at Hellenic Bank since May 2019, member of the Executive Team. She holds a BA/MA in Engineering and Management from the University of Cambridge. Mrs Papadopoulou is a member of ICAEW, ICPA Cyprus and the Public Register of Certified Persons. During 1994 – 1998 she worked at Deloitte & Touche London and then joined D&T Cyprus as Senior Manager. She later moved to Bank of Cyprus where she served in various posts including being the Senior Manager of the Restructuring & Recoveries Division. She joined Hellenic Bank in 2015 as GM of the Business Division. In 2016, she assumed the duties of GM of the Arrears Management Division and following the decision to spin off the Division’s operations, she took the position of Country Manager of APS Cyprus, the first distressed debt servicer in Cyprus.

General Manager, International Business Banking, Eurobank Cyprus

Stephanos has over 20 years of banking experience, working initially in a financial institution in London for a period of three years, handling a portfolio of clients mainly involved in the real estate sector. In 2000 he returned to Cyprus and worked for six years at a local Bank, managing the Credit Department of the International Business Banking Division. In 2007, he joined Eurobank Cyprus, managing the International Business Division, including the Bank’s network. At present, he holds the position of General Manager and his area of responsibility covers the following areas: the International business clients segment, the banking center network, and the development of affluent banking clients segment. Stephanos holds a BSc in Accounting and Finance from the University of Essex and an MSc in Insurance and Risk Management from the City Business School.

Andreas Yiasemides is the President of the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA) and Partner, in charge of Funds Services at PwC Cyprus. On his graduation from the University of Manchester with a first-class degree in Economics, he joined PwC in 1999 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (FCA). He continued his career with the Bank of Cyprus, holding various positions including heading the Custody and Trusts Unit. He then moved on to an organization of professional services where he set up and led the Fund Services Unit. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Cyprus and of the Central Bank of Cyprus and is the President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Investment Fund Association (CIFA). He is also a member of the Cyprus National Advisory Council of the Charter Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI).

Andria Koukounis is a Partner and the Head of the Financial Services, Funds and Capital Markets of Koukounis, Karaolis LLC, law firm member of the EY global network. Andria has extensive experience in sectors such as commercial, real estate and energy, as well as niche areas of law such as fintech, licensing, data protection and compliance. She has taken part in early negotiations with prospective contractors for the construction of the Euroasia Interconnector (renamed as Great Sea Interconnector), setup the first investment fund and legal documentation for leasing (hire-purchase) of PV panels in Cyprus, and leads the legal / regulatory workstream in various renewable energy transactions.

Chairman, Association of Cyprus International Financial Firms

Demetris Taxitaris is the Chief Executive Officer of MAP S.Platis, a leading consulting Group in the provision of solutions in licensing, regulatory compliance, internal audit, risk management, human resources, regulatory technology, information technology, business resilience, information security including cybersecurity, governance, executive training and innovation to regulated and other firms. In the past, he worked at Bank of Cyprus as Head of Asset Management with local and international clients, individuals and institutionals, across all industries. Prior to that, Demetris worked at Deloitte in London where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant, becoming a member of the ICAEW. Demetris is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (‘ICPAC’) and the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (‘CIFA’) and a Chairman of the Association of Cyprus International Financial Firms (‘ACIFF’).

Board Member, Invest Cyprus

Spyros Vassiliou is a Member of the Board of Directors of Invest Cyprus since 2019 and a member of the Cyprus Bar Association. He served as the CEO of P.I. Provident Investments Ltd and he is the Founder of the Law Firm Spyros Vassiliou & Associates LLC and Managing Partner of P.C.S. Provident Corporate Services Ltd. With more than 15 years of experience in both the Legal and Financial sectors, Spyros provides advice and counsel to private and corporate clients, focusing on corporate & commercial law, trusts, estate, tax planning, and IP rights. He is also well established in cross-border commercial litigation. He is passionate about Fin-Tech, mainly niche products and structures, and has a long-established business presence in technology and innovation-oriented markets. An international speaker promoting Cyprus and sophisticated solutions and structures to High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and Institutional Investors worldwide.

Senior Manager, Risk Advisory, Funds Advisory Services, Deloitte in Cyprus

Theodora Economides is a Senior Manager within the Risk Advisory Department of Deloitte in Cyprus, specialising in Financial Institutions, as well as European Investment Firms, Investment Funds and Fund Managers. She has many years of experience in regulatory compliance and strategy with a focus on policies, compliance and disclosures. Theodora holds a BSc in Economics from University College London (UCL) and an MPhil in Real Estate Finance from the University of Cambridge. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC). She is also a member of ICPAC Funds Committee and CIFA Alternative Investment Funds Committee.

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Through its representation of ten member banks, that hold more than 90% of market share and provide a full range of banking services, the Association of Cyprus Banks (ACB) is the voice of the Cyprus banking system. Its primary aim is to promote best practices for the interest of the banking sector and the local economy as a whole. The ACB is a non-profit organization through which common positions are formulated and promoted on banking and financial issues, when local legislative and governmental policies are determined. In communicating the industry’s views, the ACB cooperates closely with the Central Bank of Cyprus, the House of Representatives and various Ministries as well as other private and public bodies. The Association also has a close relationship with the European Banking Federation (of which it is a member), national banking associations and global organizations. This year, the ACB is celebrating its 50 years’ anniversary.

Cyprus Bar Association is the professional body of lawyers with 4273 members. Cyprus Bar Association was established under the Advocates Law Chapter 2 in 1960 and it has been operating since then. It is the Regulatory Body and among its powers is to maintain the honour and independence of the Bar and its defence in relation to the judiciary and the executive and to regulate the practice and etiquette of the profession. It is the competent authority for lawyers under Cyprus legislation in accordance with section 59 (4) of the Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering of Money Laundering Activities Law of 2007 (L. 188 (I)/2007) as amended. Cyprus Bar Association is a member of the Council of the European Bar Association (CCBE) and a member of the International Bar Association (IBA).

The Cyprus Fiduciary Association (CYFA), established in 2011, is the representative body of regulated Administrative Service Providers (ASP’s) in Cyprus. With a vision to assist in forming a solid international business sector in Cyprus operating on high professional standards, ethics and integrity, the Association aims to serve industry providers by promoting their interests, raising sector awareness, supporting their operations, contributing to new legislations and delivering valuable training to professionals. The Association’s commitment to its purpose has established it among the most reputable and recognised organisations within the country, before public and regulatory authorities, other associations, as well as the business community in Cyprus and overseas.

The Cyprus Investment Funds Association (CIFA) represents the face and voice of the Cyprus asset management and investment fund community. Founded in 2013, CIFA currently counts over 380 members and represents fund managers, depositaries, administrators, professional advisory firms and other specialist firms involved in the fund services industry in Cyprus. CIFA’s Board of Directors is comprised of high caliber industry professionals who come from all areas of the funds industry and are well-placed to support and complement the continued development of the industry. CIFA’s mission revolves around assisting its members capitalize on industry trends, shaping the development of the regulatory and legislative framework, enhancing professionalism, integrity and quality, and promoting Cyprus as a leading funds jurisdiction.

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC) is the relevant authority for the accountancy profession in Cyprus. Established in 1961, ICPAC currently has more than 5.300 professional accountants as members and another 3,500 students and graduates. Its principal objectives include the provision of an organisational framework for all professional accountants, the support and the promotion of the activities and interests of the accountancy profession, safeguarding the reputation of the profession and adherence to the Code of Ethics by all its members, as well as the continuous professional development and updating of members on issues relevant to accounting, auditing and other business matters. In addition, ICPAC has been delegated the task to regulate the audit profession and is also a competent authority under the Anti-Money Laundering laws, the Laws on the regulation of enterprises providing administrative services and the Insolvency Practitioners Law. ICPAC is a key stakeholder in the economy of the country, playing a vital role to establish and maintain Cyprus as a prominent international business centre of good repute. It provides assistance to the Government and its departments, participates in the parliamentary consultation, as well as cooperates harmoniously with other bodies of the private sector. Furthermore, ICPAC is active outside the boundaries of Cyprus via a network of international accountancy and other professional bodies.

GOLD was first published in 2011 as the first monthly English-language business magazine in Cyprus. Today, it not only consistently promotes good business practices, focusing on the promotion of Cyprus as an international business centre, but has a unique readership, comprising High Net Worth Individ­uals, executives of international companies, and English-speaking Cypriot and non-Cypriot busi­nessmen and women.

As the flagship publication within IMH’s media brands, IN Business magazine, has a 16-year history, during which thousands of examples of good business practices by businesses and businesspeople, brands, commercial practices and developments have been showcased. The aim of IN Business was – and continues to be – the promotion of good Cypriot business. www.inbusinessnews.com