Gold magazine september issue

ISSUE 78 SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 PRICE €2.00

PRESENTS

MARITIME

Cyprus 2017

5 2 91295 000577

00001 >

Global and local shipping issues go under the spotlight at the biennial gathering in Limassol

FINTECH ,W·V QRW MXVW DERXW WHFKQRORJ\ VD\V 6SLURV 0DUJDULV

PROJECT MANAGEMENT Paul Hodgkins reveals the key to PM success

IINVESTMENT FUNDS

PLUS

Looking ahead to the 3rd International Funds Summit

%XVLQHVV %ULHÀQJ :KDW·V 2Q %RRNV 2SLQLRQ DQG PRUH

MARIA

THE FIRST NAME IN LO N G -T E R M LOYA LT Y

We are one of the world’s largest independent providers of trust, fund and corporate administration services.

We are committed to helping our clients protect, nurture and grow their wealth.

Above all, we are a people business.

To find out more about our services and to get to know us better, visit www.firstnames.com

76 | GOLD | The Business Magazine of Cyprus

ISSUE 78 SEPTEMBER 17, 2017

T H E

B U S I N E S S

M A G A Z I N E

O F

C Y P R U S

CONTENTS 6 | EDITORIAL 8 | BUSINESS BRIEFING

Economic & Business Highlights of the past month.

12 | MY WAY

COVER

Vassos Aristodemou’s management style.

STORY

22 | 0$5,7,0( &<3586

13 | FIVE MINUTES WITH… Angela Panayiotou

The biennial event in Limassol is one of [OL ^VYSK»Z TVZ[ ZPNUPÄJHU[ HUK ILZ[ attended shipping conferences, regularly attracting close to 1,000 shipping executives from around the globe. On the occasion of Maritime Cyprus 2017, we present the views of several key ÄN\YLZ VU [OL JOHSSLUNLZ MHJPUN the local and global shipping industry.

15 | THEY SAID WHAT? Some of the most memorable statements that we have heard about Cyprus over the past month.

OPINION 14 | Rumours and Fake News

By Nikola Grozdanovic

FEATURES 16 | Technology + Human

Ingenuity = The Future Fintech expert Spiros Margaris believes that the future is not only about technology.

16

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL FEATURES 43 | Maritime Cyprus 2017 Presenting the products and services of 23 shipping related companies

97 | The Business

of Health

Seven major health sector organisations present their products and services in detail.

20 | A Positive Outlook CIFA President Angelos Gregoriades previews the upcoming 3rd Cyprus Funds Summit.

20

90 | Building A Healthier Future for All Maneesh Juneja. tells GOLD about his vision of digital healthcare.

90

122

93 | 8th Limassol Economic

Forum Looking ahead to the biggest and most important business gathering in Cyprus.

94 | Leadership is the Key If there is one quality that is required of a successful project manager, it is leadership, says Paul Hodgkins.

4 | GOLD | The Business Magazine of Cyprus

112 | BOOKSHELF

118 | TIME OFF Healthy Body & Mind

113 | BUSINESS CLASS

122 | LUNCH WITH GOLD Katie Clerides

114 | IN GOOD

126 | WHAT’S ON GOLD’s guide to the best cultural events of the coming month.

Five new business titles.

Elena Tsanou

COMPANY How Trident Trust’s people make complex matters simple

130 | A DAY IN THE LIFE Demetris Aletraris

130

112 | GOLD | The Business Magazine of Cyprus

| EDITORIAL |

GOLD ,668( _ 6(37(0%(5 _ MARITIME CYPRUS 2017

Maritime Cyprus

ISSUE 78 SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 PRICE â&#x201A;Ź2.00

PRESENTS

MARITIME

Cyprus 2017

5 2 91295 000577

00001 >

Global and local shipping issues go under the spotlight at the biennial gathering in Limassol

FINTECH ,W¡V QRW MXVW DERXW WHFKQRORJ\ VD\V 6SLURV 0DUJDULV

PROJECT MANAGEMENT Paul Hodgkins reveals the key to PM success

IINVESTMENT FUNDS

PLUS

Looking ahead to the 3rd International Funds Summit

%XVLQHVV %ULHĂ&#x20AC;QJ :KDW¡V 2Q %RRNV 2SLQLRQ DQG PRUH

PUBLISHED BY IMH ISSN 1986 - 3543

T

he most important shipping conference to be held in Cyprus is, undoubtedly, Maritime Cyprus, which has been organised every two years since 1989 and is today one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most significant and best-attended shipping conferences. And, for once, this description is neither exaggeration nor wishful thinking. One needs only to note the calibre and profile of some of those attending the 15th conference to see this: Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Violeta Bulc, EU Commissioner for Transport, Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping and Niels Smedegaard, President of the European Community Shipowners Associations, are just some of the guest speakers.

Unlike many conferences that take place in Cyprus, this one does not focus on the local industry. It is held here â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and is so successful â&#x20AC;&#x201C; because shipping is a unique example of a global sector in which Cyprus is seen as a leader. As Ioannis Efstratiou, Acting Director of the Department of Merchant Shipping tells GOLD, shipping is â&#x20AC;&#x153;a sector in which we have an international voice and we can claim that we are among the best in the world.â&#x20AC;?

So shipping executives from around the world will gather next month to hear distinguished speakers and world-class experts analyze and discuss issues of concern to the global shipping industry. These include policy and regulatory matters, forthcoming changes on the international shipping scene, financial and environmental issues, the role of technology, geopolitical and energy developments, and forecasts for the recovery of global freight markets. In addition to leading figures in the international shipping industry, Cypriots involved in both public and private sector shipping will address or attend the conference. Several of them, including Transport Minister Marios Demetriades, the President and Director-General of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and the President of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, spoke exclusively to GOLD for our cover story (starting on page 22).

Conferences of various kinds are a key part of what IMH, the publisher of GOLD, has been doing for many years. In this issue, we talk to several of the keynote speakers at major IMH-organised conferences taking place over the next two months. They include Digital Health Futurist Maneesh Juneja (Cyprus Healthcare Conference Gala, October 12), the Founder of the eponymous Paul Hodgkins Project Consultancy (Project Management Conference, November 3), Fintech expert and venture capitalist Spiros Margaris (Cyprus FinTech Expo, November 8) and CIFA President Andreas Gregoriades (3rd International Funds Summit, October 29-31) And, as always, this issue of GOLD contains all our usual popular feaJohn Vickers, tures (My Way, They Said What?, Business Class, Bookshelf, Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On, Chief Editor In Good Company, Lunch With Gold, Time Off, etc.) and much more.

Enjoy! john@imhbusiness.com 6 | GOLD | The Business Magazine of Cyprus

MANAGING DIRECTOR

George Michail

GENERAL MANAGER

Daphne Roditou Tang MEDIA MANAGER

Antonis Antoniou EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

John Vickers JOURNALISTS

Artemis Constantinidou, Pan Charalambous CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE

Nikola Grozdanovic ART DIRECTION

Anna Theodosiou

SENIOR DESIGNER

Alexia Petrou

ASSISTANT DESIGNER

Stephanie Andreou, Marios Kouroufexis PHOTOGRAPHY

Emma Louise Charalambous, Jo Michaelides, Christos Tsekouras, Helena Georghiou MARKETING EXECUTIVE

Kevi Chishios

SALES MANAGER

Neofytos Constantinou SALES EXECUTIVE

Erika Phylakti

OPERATIONS MANAGER

Voulla Nicolaou

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Myria Neophytou PRINTERS

Cassoulides Masterprinters CONTACT 5 Aigaleo St., Strovolos 2057, Nicosia, Cyprus Mailing address: P.O.Box 21185, 1503, Nicosia, Cyprus Tel: +357 22505555, Fax: +357 22679820 e-mail: gold@imhbusiness.com subscriptions: goldsubscriptions@imhbusiness.com www.imhbusiness.com

BUSINESS BRIEFING AIR TRAVEL

COBALT ANNOUNCES MORE FLIGHTS

T

he Cyprus-based airline Cobalt Air has announced the launch of new flights from Larnaca to London Gatwick, Dublin and Frankfurt as part of its 2017 winter schedule. Flights to Gatwick will operate every day except Friday from October 30. They are in addition to daily flights to Stansted. Flights to Dublin will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays, while flights to Frankfurt will operate on Wednesdays and Fridays from November 1.

Before the end of the year, Colbalt with also be operating flights to Moscow and, in 2018, to St. Petersburg

REAL ESTATE

P

Sales up by 27% in August

YVWLY[` ZHSLZ PU HSS KPstYPJ[Z L_JLW[ Larnaca rose last month. Limassol SLK ^P[O H YPZL V]LY [OL Ã&#x201E;N\YL -VY [OL Ã&#x201E;YZ[ LPNO[ TVU[OZ VM [OL `LHY ZHSLZ PU 7HWOVZ ^LYL \W I`

PU 5PJVZPH I` HUK PU [OL -HTHN\Z[H +PZ[YPJ[ I` 3HYUHJH I` JVU[YHZ[ L_WLYPLUJLK HU MHSS PU [OL U\TILY VM [P[SL KLLK [YHUZHJ[PVUZ 4LHU^OPSL [OL U\TILY VM I\PSKPUN WLYTP[Z PZZ\LK I` T\UPJPWHS H\[OVYP[PLZ YVZL I` K\YPUN [OL Ã&#x201E;YZ[ OHSM VM [OL `LHY

APPOINTMENTS 5L^ 3LW[VZ 6É&#x2030;JLZ

P ELIAS NEOCLEOUS & CO LLC

Elias Neocleous & Co LLC has strengthLULK P[Z 5PJVZPH VÉ&#x2030;JL ^P[O [OL HWWVPU[TLU[ VM H UL^ WHY[ULY HUK H UL^ ZLUPVY associate. Nicolas Tsardellis, Advocate/ 7HY[ULY OHZ ILLU HWWVPU[LK [V OLHK [OL 5PJVZPH SP[PNH[PVU HUK KPZW\[L YLZVS\[PVU KLWHY[TLU[ ^OPSL .LVYNL ;ZHYKLSSPZ Advocate/Senior Associate, has been HWWVPU[LK HZ H ZLUPVY HZZVJPH[L PU [OL 5PJVZPH SP[PNH[PVU HUK KPZW\[L YLZVS\[PVU KLWHY[TLU[

PWC 7^* OHZ HUUV\UJLK [OH[ 2`YPHJVZ 2VRRPUVZ ^PSS IL QVPUPUN P[Z ;LJOUVSVN` Consulting Team as an Executive Director, focusing on the area of Digital :[YH[LN` HUK ;YHUZMVYTH[PVU >P[O `LHYZ VM L_WLYPLUJL PU [OL 0UMVYTH[PVU ;LJOUVSVN` ZLJ[VY 2VRRPUVZ» TVZ[ YLJLU[ WVZ[ ^HZ ,_LJ\[P]L +PYLJ[VY 7HY[ULY H[ 0)4 ,\YVWL SLHKPUN [OL *VNUP[P]L :`Z[LTZ :VS\[PVUZ HUK +PNP[HS ;YHUZMVYTH[PVU WYHJ[PJL MVY [OL communications sector.

33,614

THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED UNEMPLOYED IN AUGUST 2017, REPRESENTING A FALL OF 13.4% AND THE LOWEST LEVEL FOR AUGUST OF THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

8 | GOLD | The Business Magazine of Cyprus

LW[VZ ,Z[H[LZ VUL VM [OL JV\U[Y`»Z SLHKPUN 7YVWLY[` +L]LSVWLYZ YLJLU[S` PUH\N\YH[LK P[Z [O :HSLZ HUK 0UMVYTH[PVU 6É&#x2030;JL PU *`WY\Z 3VJH[LK H[ 7HWOVZ OHYIV\Y [OL UL^ VÉ&#x2030;JL ^OPJO PZ WHY[ VM [OL JVTWHU`»Z I\ZPULZZ YLVYNHUPZH[PVU HUK L_WHUZPVU VÉ&#x2C6;LYZ MVYLPNUers and locals interested in investing in YLHS LZ[H[L [OL VWWVY[\UP[` [V IL PUMVYTLK HIV\[ [OL 3LW[VZ .YV\W»Z SH[LZ[ KL]LSVWTLU[ WYVQLJ[Z PU WYPTL SVJH[PVUZ PU *`WY\Z HUK [OL .YLLR PZSHUKZ

POL ITICS

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DATES ANNOUNCED =V[PUN [V LSLJ[ *`WY\Z» UL_[ 7YLZPKLU[ ^PSS [HRL WSHJL LHYSPLY [OHU \Z\HS UL_[ `LHY VU :\UKH` 1HU\HY` HUK :\UKH` -LIY\HY` ;OL KLJPZPVU ^HZ [HRLU [V TV]L [OL LSLJ[PVUZ MVY^HYK MYVT [OL VYPNPUHS KH[LZ PU -LIY\HY` [V H]VPK [OL Ã&#x201E;YZ[ HUK ZLJVUK YV\UK WVSSPUN KH`Z JVPUJPKPUN ^P[O *HYUP]HS JLSLIYH[PVUZ HUK WHYHKLZ ;OL Ã&#x201E;UHS KH[L MVY YLNPZ[YH[PVU [V ]V[L ^PSS UV^ IL +LJLTILY

EDUCATION

0THY*VTTZ VɈLYZ 7YVMLZZPVUHS Diploma in Digital Marketing

MILESTONES

T

OL +PNP[HS 4HYRL[PUN 0UZ[P[\[L»Z 7YVMLZZPVUHS +PWSVTH PU +PNP[HS 4HYRL[PUN PZ [OL TVZ[ ^PKLS` [H\NO[ KPNP[HS THYRL[PUN JLY[PÄJH[PVU PU [OL ^VYSK OLSWPUN THYRL[PUN WYVMLZZPVUHSZ ILJVTL *LY[PÄLK +PNP[HS 4HYRL[PUN 7YVMLZZPVUHSZ HUK JVTWL[L Z\JJLZZM\SS` PU [OL KPNP[HS THYRL[PUN HYLUH 0THY*VTTZ NSVIHS WHY[ULY VM [OL +PNP[HS 4HYRL[PUN 0UZ[P[\[L YLZ[HY[Z ^LLR JSHZZYVVT JV\YZLZ VU 6J[VILY H[ [OL <UP]LYZP[` VM *`WY\Z HUK VUSPUL TVKL H[ HU` [PTL VM [OL `LHY HSVUN ^P[O V[OLY ZWLJPHSPZ[ HUK HK]HUJLK JV\YZLZ PU :VJPHS 4LKPH :LHYJO +PNP[HS :[YH[LN` HUK :HSLZ For more information, visit imarcomms.com

IN THE NEWS

IKEA CELEBRATES 10 YEARS IN CYPRUS 02,( *`WY\Z PZ JLSLIYH[PUN P[Z [O HUUP]LYZHY` [OPZ TVU[O :PUJL P[ VWLULK TVYL [OHU TPSSPVU WLVWSL OH]L ]PZP[LK P[Z 5PJVZPH Z[VYL *`WY\Z ^HZ [OL [O JV\U[Y` [V OVZ[ H Z[VYL I` [OL :^LKPZO M\YUP[\YL THU\MHJ[\YLY ^OPJO J\YYLU[S` VWLYH[LZ PU JV\U[YPLZ HYV\UK [OL ^VYSK

PRESIDENT, MPS ASSETS AND SALARIES REVEALED

L

HZ[ `LHY»Z KLJSHYH[PVU VM HZZL[Z MVY 7YLZPKLU[ 5PJVZ Anastasiades, his cabinet and other senior government VɉJPHSZ ^HZ THKL W\ISPJ LHYSPLY [OPZ TVU[O HUK P[ PTTLKPH[LS` IHJRÄYLK HWWLHYPUN [V IL SP[[SL TVYL [OHU H WVVY 79 L_LYJPZL ;OL MHJ[ [OH[ ZPTPSHY KLJSHYH[PVUZ I` WVSP[PJPHUZ» ZWV\ZLZ HUK JOPSKYLU ^LYL UV[ YLX\PYLK YLUKLYLK [OL H[[LTW[ H[ [YHUZWHYLUJ` HZ SP[[SL TVYL [OHU H QVRL ;OL 7YLZPKLU[ VM [OL 9LW\ISPJ MVY L_HTWSL LHYUZ H ZHSHY` VM V]LY Á HUK `L[ OL OHZ VUS` Á PU [OL IHUR ^OPSL [OVZL ^P[O SHYNL KLI[Z ZPTWS` YL]LHSLK OV^ KPɈLYLU[ [OL` HYL MYVT [OL VYKPUHY` WLVWSL [OL` JSHPT [V YLWYLZLU[

RCB BANK OPENS LARNACA BRANCH 9*) )HUR OHZ VWLULK H IYHUJO PU 3HYUHJH [V^U JLU[YL HZ WHY[ VM P[Z Z[YH[LN` [V L_WHUK P[Z VWLYH[PVUZ PU [OL SVJHS THYRL[ ;OL )HUR J\YYLU[S` VWLYH[LZ ZL]LU TVYL IYHUJOLZ PU 5PJVZPH 3PTHZZVS HUK 7HWOVZ (SS 9*) )HUR IYHUJOLZ HYL VWLU KHPS` MYVT HT [V WT

/PZ[VYPJHS 0[HSPHU 5H]` :HPSPUN :OPW =PZP[Z *`WY\Z

L

HZ[ TVU[O *`WYPV[Z OHK H JOHUJL [V ]PZP[ VUL VM [OL 0[HSPHU 5H]`»Z TVZ[ MHTV\Z ZOPWZ ^OLU [OL Z[\UUPUN ZHPSPUN [YHPUPUN ZOPW ¸7HSPU\YV¹ JOVZL 3HYUHJH HZ VUL VM P[Z WVY[Z VM JHSS PU [OL JVU[L_[ VM [OL YK *OPLM 7L[[` 6ɉJLY [YHPUPUN JHTWHPNU MVY [OL JHKL[Z VM [OL 0[HSPHU 5H]`»Z (JHKLT` VM ;HYHU[V ;OL 7HSPU\YV ^HZ I\PS[ PU HUK OHZ ILLU \ZLK ZPUJL HZ H [YHPUPUN ]LZZLS MVY O\UKYLKZ VM 0[HSPHU JHKL[Z ^OV Z[HY[LK [OLPY JHYLLYZ MYVT P[Z KLJRZ SLHYUPUN [OL IHZPJZ VM ZLHTHUZOPW ;OL [YHPUPUN JHTWHPNU PZ HU LZZLU[PHS WHY[ VM [OL JHKL[Z» LK\JH[PVU JVTWSLmenting the academic side of their studies.

SHIPPING

ENI INAUGURATES FIRST PETROL STATION ;OL ÄYZ[ ,UP WL[YVS Z[H[PVU PU *`WY\Z ^HZ PUH\N\YH[LK VU (\N\Z[ MVSSV^PUN HNYLLTLU[ IL[^LLU [OL 0[HSPHU T\S[PUH[PVUHS HUK 7L[YVSPUH [V YLIYHUK HSS P[Z (NPW Z[H[PVUZ ;OL UL^ Z[H[PVU PZ SVJH[LK VU ;YVVKVZ (]LU\L VWWVZP[L [OL (TLYPJHU 4LKPJHS *LU[LY PU 5PJVZPH 6[OLYZ ^PSS MVSSV^ ZOVY[S`

PLAUDIT S

CYPRUS IS 3rd MOST POPULAR SUNNY UK EXPAT DESTINATION

CYPRUS NAMED SAFEST COUNTRY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

;OL Z\U PZ VUL VM [OL ML^ [OPUNZ [OH[ [OL )YP[PZO TPZZ TVZ[ HUK HZ H JVUZLX\LUJL TVYL [OHU VM <2 L_WH[Z JVUZPKLY [OL ^LH[OLY H[ [OLPY [HYNL[ KLZ[PUH[PVU ILMVYL TV]PUN HIYVHK ;OL L_WH[ JVUZ\S[HUJ` 0U[LYUH[PVUZ YLJLU[S` Z\Y]L`LK TVYL [OHU L_WH[Z MYVT V]LY JV\U[YPLZ [V ÄUK [OL ºOVTLZ MYVT OVTL» ^P[O [OL ILZ[ JSPTH[L *`WY\Z JHTL YK ILOPUK *VZ[H 9PJH PU UK WSHJL HUK 4HS[H ^OPJO [VWWLK [OL SPZ[

(JJVYKPUN [V HU HUHS`ZPZ VM [OL TVZ[ YLJLU[ >VYSK /LHS[O 6YNHUPZH[PVU >/6 KH[H *`WY\Z PZ [OL ZHMLZ[ VM [OL JV\U[YPLZ HUHS`ZLK ^P[O H KLH[O YH[L VM HSTVZ[ VUL PU L]LY` `V\[OZ ;OL <UP[LK 2PUNKVT VUL PU L]LY` PZ YHURLK Q\Z[ V\[ZPKL [OL [VW ZHMLZ[ JV\U[YPLZ ILOPUK 0ZYHLS =PVSLUJL WYL]LU[HISL KPZLHZLZ HUK [YHɉJ HJJPKLU[Z HYL [V ISHTL MVY H ^PKLUPUN VM [OL `V\[O TVY[HSP[` NHW IL[^LLU [OL KL]LSVWLK HUK KL]LSVWPUN ^VYSK

www.goldnews.com.cy | GOLD | 9

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

EUROFAST

CYPRUS: TRANSFER PRICING IS HERE TO STAY

T

ransfer pricing has never been as important as it is today.

Changes have now also been brought about in Cypriot tax legislation and, as of 1 July 2017, all companies which have intra-group financing need to have transfer pricing in place.

Briefly, intra-group transactions need to be priced (the ‘transfer price’) in accordance with the provisions of the transfer pricing legislation to determine how much of the profit is allocated, recognized and, therefore, taxed within the related entities of the group.

Common practice to date was often to use subjective market rates on intra-group loans and/or apply minimal margins on back-to-back loan arrangements which will now no longer be accepted by the tax authorities.

Comparability studies have to be prepared by transfer pricing specialists to substantiate the interest rates used. The Cyprus tax authorities, as well as tax authorities in other jurisdictions, will challenge the transfer pricing adopted in intra-group financing if they feel the interest rates are being manipulated to artificially divert profits away from the functions and risks of the group.

As a result, this will have a significant impact on all Cyprus companies which have such intra-group financing (i.e. loans with related parties) and it is imperative that tax professionals examine your structures to ensure that their tax treatment is correct and their tax risk exposure is mitigated. We strongly advise clients and other interested parties to start reviewing their current group structures and to contact us for more information to assist you in determining the impact of these changes and discuss possible solutions.

At Eurofast we provide a tailored service to meet our clients’ transfer pricing needs and requirements. These include helping you understand how the new transfer pricing legislation impacts your business, identifying the most appropriate transfer pricing methodology, conducting benchmarking analysis to define the arm’s length principle interest rate, providing training to your staff, and helping you design an effective and efficient business model.

Over the recent years our tax team has accumulated a wealth of transfer pricing experience and assisted numerous clients in South Eastern Europe to address their transfer pricing needs. We also work with our international association members from Taxand which enables us to provide you with a comprehensive approach to your transfer pricing obligations and opportunities worldwide. Our Transfer Pricing experts are also part of the writing team of “Transfer Pricing Global Guide by Thompson Reuters”, a global insight from leading professionals in comparative guides to transfer pricing worldwide.

Contact us to find out all you need to know about Transfer Pricing in Cyprus.

Anastasia Sagianni Head of Transfer Pricing Division e-mail: anastasia.sagianni@eurofast.eu | Tel: (+357) 22699222

info@eurofast.eu | www.eurofast.eu

Your Regional Business Advisory Organisation

Locations: Athens | Thessaloniki Lefkosia | Sofia | Bucharest | Belgrade Podgorica | Tirana | Skopje | Zagreb Pristina | Banja Luka | Sarajevo | Cairo Alexandria | Tbilisi | Kiev | Moscow Beirut | Erbil | Tehran

Balance your Transfer Pricing Risks!

LAW E X

2017

RTS

GLO

AL

PE

B

We offer the right expert advice to mitigate tax risks, penalties and adverse tax consequences.

ANNUAL AWARDS WINNER

Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year in South East Europe| GOLD 2017 www.goldnews.com.cy | 11

MY WAY

Vassos Aristodemou President & CEO NETinfo

LEADING BY EXAMPLE, HE BELIEVES IN THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING TO LEADERS, WHO SHOULD RECOGNISE THAT THEY BELONG TO A MUCH BIGGER TEAM. ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS, HE SAYS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO LEARN FROM FAILURE AND TO KNOW WHEN TO STOP WORK AND TAKE CARE OF ONE’S HEALTH AND FAMILY.

“I

do my best to lead by example and not by command.

My duty as a manager is to inspire, guide and support my people. It is important to me that my employees know that I stand by them every step of the way. I believe that if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

“E

very day of the past 20 years has been a learning experience for me. I have learned how to pursue success, but most importantly how to embrace failure and learn from it.

I have learned how not to worry about things I can’t change and focus on the things that I can.”

“M

y years in the business world have taught me that individuals rarely achieve anything on their own. Success is a result of collaboration. NETinfo is not made up of a single CEO or a Board of Directors. It is a collection of every single person who works for the company. I admire comradery.”

“A

s important as work may be, health and family always come first. I try to enjoy meals with colleagues, friends and family as often as I can.

Also, my day doesn’t end eam here is unless I am home enjoymemno subing a glass of wine and bers stitute watching a TV series need to for expewith my wife. I’ve feel trusted and valued and rience. I been working long micromanaging commuhad a number of entry-level jobs hours forr as long as nicates the exact opposite. in my youth and every single one I can remember member My advice to new managers of them has helped shape the and small ll daily With would be: Don’t tell people person I am today. I had to learn over 30 years moments ts of how to do things. Tell them how to be an employee before I of working experience rest keep p what it is you need them to became a director. Leadership and in IT services, Vassos me going g do, and they will surprise learning are indispensable to each Aristodemou is currently strong.” you with their ingenuity.” other.” the President & CEO of NETinfo.

Founded in 2000, NETinfo is a leading IT company, providing innovaen years ago, our company’s slogan was “Going global”. Today, tive Online and Mobile Banking, Mobile NETinfo is trusted by financial institutions in over 30 countries.

Financial Services, Retail I work alongside a group of people who dare to dream and beand Corporate Finance lieve in what we do. I am thankful for every single day of this journey and all Management and Payment Solutions to Banking and the ups and downs that make it what it is.”

Financial institutions worldwide.

“T “T

12 | GOLD | The Business Magazine of Cyprus

“T