Team size: 13

Major legal advisors: 5

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 the General Counsel of the Athens Exchange Group, I participate in all BoD meetings, where I have the opportunity to highlight the importance of precautionary measures and efficient procedures for crisis management. In addition, as the Head of the Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance Division of the Group, I work towards ensuring that the division stays informed on evolving regulations and implements proactive compliance measures. Since we are also responsible for drafting the Rulebooks and Regulatory Decisions of the companies within the Group, we incorporate such measures into the regulatory provisions of the Hellenic capital market.

Furthermore, my role as a member of the Executive Team allows me to participate actively in the business decision-making process, thus providing me with a clear understanding of any issues or weaknesses that may arise. In this respect, I collaborate with my colleagues to conduct comprehensive risk assessments, identifying vulnerabilities and developing contingency plans for managing legal aspects in the event of instability or crises.

For certain projects, however, it is of utmost importance to form dedicated crisis management teams consisting of the legal, “defence,” and business functions to align legal strategies with operational needs and ensure continuous communication with the business owners.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment?

Prioritising diversity and inclusion (D&I) within our legal department is fundamental to fostering a more equitable, innovative, and effective work environment. My approach to D&I is built on the understanding that a diverse and inclusive team enables problem-solving, drives creativity, and better reflects the diverse clientele and communities we serve.

Special emphasis is placed on balancing the professional and personal lives of our team’s executives, while a hybrid working model has been adopted within the framework set by management.

Moreover, I take initiatives to foster cooperation among the executives of the Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance division with frequent interdisciplinary meetings, where each executive describes their responsibilities, tasks (and favourite projects), and they can exchange opinions and knowledge. In this context, we have organised a series of peer-to-peer learning courses, where each executive delivers training on their area of specialisation.

Therefore, I am very honoured to have been appointed as the Group Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. My dedication to adopting policies that promote work-life balance and gender equality for all employees has contributed to the Group’s success in obtaining the SHARE Project Equality Label, as one of the 18 companies in Greece. Furthermore, my support for employee well-being is evident through my role as Vice President of the ATHEX Occupational Insurance Fund.