Team size: 14

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

During the last 12 months I was involved in numerous major projects for the Bank.

I was involved in the acquisition of the CNP Assurances’ operations in Cyprus and Greece via the sale of 100% of CNP Cyprus Insurance Holdings (‘CIH’) to Hellenic Bank for a total consideration of €182m. CIH operated in both the non-life and life insurance sub-sectors in Cyprus, via two separate entities, CNP Cyprialife and CNP Zois, which are now been rebranded as ERB Cyprialife and ERB Asfalistiki, respectively.

I was also involved in the acquisition of 100% of Hellenic Bank Public Company Limited by Eurobank S.A. via the acquisition of shares of major shareholders, a mandatory takeover bid to acquire the remaining shares of Hellenic Bank and a squeeze out process, all in line with the takeover regulations.

I also played a key role in the legal merger of Hellenic Bank Public Company Limited with Eurobank Cyprus Limited which was completed on 01/09/2025 and renaming of Hellenic Bank to Eurobank Limited as from 02/09/2025.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

It is more often than not that credit institutions encounter periods of instability, given the dynamic nature of the banking business and the direct impact that various economic and geopolitical developments may have. It is, therefore, crucial for internal legal advisors to understand the potential legal risks inherent in any such situation. This involves scrutinising aspects of operational risks, industry regulations, contractual obligations, data protection measures, together with continuous adjustments of the organisation’s policies and practices as the applicable legal frameworks continuously develop and change. Therefore, our legal approach and strategy in aligning with the broader business strategy towards optimising the organisation’s resilience entails a deep dive into the organisation’s day-to-day workings, as part of a continuous review process, thus enabling us to timely identify any possible threats related to any legal aspects of the organisation’s business.

What measures has your company taken to incorporate sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how can general counsel contribute to driving such initiatives within the organisation?

Hellenic Bank’s (as recently renamed to Eurobank Limited) ESG Strategy is based on four pillars: net zero Bank; workforce of the future; resilience and performance; and sustainable ecosystem.

The following targets have been set in order to incorporate these pillars into our business model: to be a net zero Bank by 2050; to promote diversity and inclusion, along with Employee well-being and ESG awareness; enhance Risk Management frameworks and disclosures, and improve ESG performance; support customers and investors in their green transition and their sustainability goals; and positively impact our community and the environment.

There are a number of relevant infrastructure and process upgrades currently being run by the Bank, including – but not limited to – the Bank’s Climate and Environmental (CE) Risks Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to meet regulatory requirements linked to potential ESG risks, as well as the offering of green products with discounted financing for electric or hybrid cars and energy efficient homes or related upgrades and business green loans to support businesses to achieve their sustainable development goals. The Bank also provides green project financing through the Grow Green initiative by offering expert consultation and guidance to SMEs and larger corporations seeking to integrate ESG principles into their business operations.

Given the complex and diverse nature of the sustainability path, the internal counsel’s role is a critical enabler, as it provides – in collaboration with external experts – ongoing legal guidance on the ever-evolving sustainability framework, advice towards better safeguarding the Bank’s legal risks throughout the sustainability transformation process, as well as continuous legal support with shaping the relevant internal policies and practices.