General counsel and Head of legal, regulatory and compliance division | Athens Exchange Group
Smaragda Rigakou
General counsel and Head of legal, regulatory and compliance division | Athens Exchange Group
Team size: 13
What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?
Over the past 12 months, I have taken pride in contributing to key initiatives aimed at enhancing and modernising the Greek capital market. I was the principal contributor to the new ATHEX Rulebook, which revised the listing prerequisites and obligations of listed companies. These reforms are intended to stimulate market activity and streamline the listing process.
In addition, I participated in the legislative process for the new law designed to enhance the Greek capital market. I was actively involved in drafting its core provisions and negotiating with market participants and regulatory authorities. This initiative aims to incentivise listed companies and investors, while also advancing the strategic interests of the ATHEX Group.
Alongside regulatory work, I continue to support complex transactions and IPOs, including the significant merger of Attica Bank with Pancreta Bank — one of the most high-profile deals in the Greek financial sector.
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?
As General Counsel of the Athens Exchange Group, I ensure that the legal strategy is fully integrated into the organisation’s broader resilience planning. My active participation in Board of Directors meetings allows me to highlight the importance of early risk identification, preventive legal measures, and robust crisis management frameworks.
In leading the Legal, Regulatory & Compliance Division, I place great emphasis on staying ahead of evolving regulatory demands. We proactively implement compliance measures and embed them directly into the Rulebooks and Regulatory Decisions that govern the Hellenic capital market—ensuring resilience is not merely reactive but structurally built into the regulatory framework.
As a member of the Executive Team, I am involved in strategic decision-making at the highest level. This close engagement gives me visibility into emerging risks and allows me to work cross-functionally to perform thorough risk assessments and develop tailored contingency plans that address both operational and legal dimensions.
In high-stakes projects or during times of uncertainty, I promote the formation of dedicated crisis management teams that unite legal, business, and operational leaders. This ensures the legal function is aligned with business priorities, that responses remain agile, and that communication between stakeholders is consistent. Ultimately, I aim to make legal strategy a proactive driver of organisational resilience — not just a safeguard of last resort.
How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive work environment?
For me, diversity and inclusion are not just aspirational values — they are strategic imperatives. A legal department that draws on diverse experiences and viewpoints is inherently more resilient, innovative, and better positioned to meet the evolving needs of the business and its stakeholders.
At the Athens Exchange Group, I have prioritised embedding inclusion into our daily operations and team culture. One key area of focus has been supporting work-life balance. By adopting a hybrid working model within the framework set by management, we have created a more flexible and empathetic working environment.
I also encourage knowledge-sharing and collaboration across the Legal, Regulatory & Compliance Division through regular interdisciplinary meetings. These sessions allow colleagues to present their work, exchange insights, and discuss standout projects, fostering both teamwork and mutual learning. Building on this, we introduced a peer-to-peer learning initiative, where team members deliver training in their areas of expertise.
I am proud to serve as the Group’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, where I actively promote gender equality and work-life balance policies. Additionally, as Vice President of the ATHEX Occupational Insurance Fund, I advocate for employee well-being, which I view as an essential element of an inclusive workplace culture.
General counsel, chief legal, regulatory and compliance officer | Athens Exchange Group
General counsel, chief legal, regulatory and compliance officer | Athens Exchange Group
General counsel, head of legal, regulatory and compliance division | Athens Exchange Group