Viewpoints, ideas and visions of leading
CEOs, decision-makers and attorneys in Greece
Advertising,
marketing and public relations
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Leo Burnett -- Building
brands:
Paul Elliott, General Manager of Leo Burnett Athens, spoke about current trends in the advertising industry.
"The Greek advertising market has been growing in terms of billings at an annual rate of 5-7% over the last 3 years. 2001 will perhaps be the first year of a slowdown in media expenditure. Overall, however, there is a growing sum of money invested by advertisers in non media-related
specialised activities such as CRM (customer relationship management), Event Marketing, Promotional Activities and Public Relations. It is in these
specialised fields of communication that future growth can be anticipated."
[premium
content]
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Andreas
Kyriakou,
General Manager, IMAKO Interactive:
"When companies devise their marketing plans, they have any
of these goals in mind: to increase market share and sales, to
increase brand awareness and brand loyalty, to improve the product or
define new products. Technology and MIS departments, on the other
hand, traditionally have one of two possible objectives: a) to reduce
cost or b) to increase productivity." [premium
content]
Alternative investor
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Tapis-Teppiche-Hali-Rugs-Carpets:
"My experience shows that 99% of the time an inexpert client can identify the most beautiful (and, alas, the most expensive) rug when it is laid out for viewing. You don’t have to learn how to distinguish a Keshan from a Tabriz, you don’t have to learn where the Tekkes lived nor the recipe to prepare a bright red color, just as you don’t have to know who invented champagne to appreciate the taste of a good one."
-- By Panos Pamukoglu, Proprietor, Kilim-Hali (9, Valaoritou Street, Athens).
[premium
content]
Analysis: stock option
plans and their implementation in Greece
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Bahas, Gramatidis & Associates:
"Stock Option Plans grant to employees of a company the option to buy shares of that company (in the future,) under preferential terms. Stock Option Plans are implemented in Greek Companies Limited by Shares (SA) as well as in Greek subsidiary companies of foreign parent companies based abroad, whose shares are listed in a foreign stock exchange."
By Popi Papantoniou and Mr. Paris Atlamazoglou. [premium
content]
Building and
construction
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AVAX:
Building Smart:
What better company to build a
bold example of sustainable building practices than a construction
company that uses the building for its head office? AVAX did just that
when it built one of Athens' most unusual yet "smart"
buildings, not far from Panathinaikos stadium off Alexandras Avenue.
The building's design and technology features are producing savings of
up to 40% off the energy bill and the office building is a proud
showcase for the firm to demonstrate environmentally friendly building
technologies to new and potential clients. [premium
content]
Business and professional
women in Greece
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It's a man's world - Or is it?
"It is becoming well-known that the PR profession, compared with other professions, attracts and retains a disproportionate amount of female executives. You don't have to look very far to see the evidence: The managing directors of four of the top six PR companies in Greece are women, with salaries, packages, responsibilities, and working hours that more than match those of their male counterparts.
But it is not just a few women at the most senior executive level who raise an eyebrow, women are also dominating the middle and junior ranks of the PR industry. For example in my company, CIVITAS, one of the leading agencies in Greece with 40 staff, women outnumber men at a rate of 3:1."
By Pandora Lycouri, Account Director, CIVITAS SA, Strategy, Communication and Public
Affairs. [premium
content]
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Challenges and
opportunities in the new economy:
"The new economy is forcing us to re-engineer our work and life. There are many challenges and opportunities. Women have some very strong advantages.
Discovering what we are really good at is no longer a luxury or a "nice thought," it is a matter of
differentiating ourselves and creating a market niche in which we can excel. It is clear we need to pin-point what it is that we have a passion for and market our services in relation to this."
By Alkistis Agio, Work & Life Change Strategist, Founder & President of "Light of Greece" -- Centre for Personal Development & Empowerment -- Athens &
Evia. [premium
content]
Doing business in the Balkans
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Philippou
Domika Erga: Building Innovation --
Interview with Nicholas Philippou, President and Managing
Director:
"We have a great interest in Northern Greece and the Balkans because of
geography and the quality of our products. Thessaloniki is 300 kilometers
from most Balkan countries - almost the same distance as Thessaloniki to
Lamia. The Balkans are within the transportation scope of our products,
which are bricks and heavy construction materials. The quality of construction materials manufactured in the Balkans is
medium grade and the technology could be improved. Depending on the economic
pressure a company experiences at any given time, these markets may supply
more expensive or less expensive products. Our products are of the highest
quality, by international standards, in the regional market. We must
understand this in the framework that, as was publicly acknowledged at the
Thessaloniki Forum, the development level in most of the Balkan countries
has room for improvement." [premium
content]
Energy and renewable energy
sources
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U.S.-Greek Solar Photovoltaic Energy Business Seminar:
Greece, particularly the non-interconnected islands, is very well suited for solar, photovoltaic, and other renewable energy technologies. It is inefficient to transmit energy from the mainland to the islands, and diesel engine generator power plants create undesirable environmental and aesthetic problems, especially for islands with a tourism-based economy. Peak loads are associated with the tourist season -- a time when sunshine and wind are
the most prevalent... Greece announced plans to promote investment in more than $2 billion of renewable energy equipment between 2000-2006 to help meet the country's energy needs. Solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal, wind, biomass, and geothermal technologies will be considered. Projects will be undertaken with approval from the Ministry of Development, the PPC (DEH), and the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE). Accelerated use of renewable energy is key to meeting the targets established by the European Commission for improving the environment in member countries. Some of the funding for these projects will come from the European Union. Private sector funds will also be required to supplement the public funding..
By Dan Ancona, Princeton Energy Resources International (PERI), Rockville,
Maryland, USA.
[premium
content]
Euro implications in
banking
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American Express Bank
-- Banking after the euro:
Gus Kostakis, Senior Country Executive at American Express Bank, spoke to Raymond Matera about the implications of the euro in the banking industry and how American Express Bank is approaching the currency changeover.
[premium
content]
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Christos V.
Gortzos, Secretary General, Hellenic Bank Association:
The introduction of the euro in Greece as of January 1, 2001 has substantially affected the entire scope of services provided by credit institutions operating in the country. The convergence of nominal interest rates within the euro area and the elimination of foreign exchange risk implied that many Greek large and export-oriented companies have more alternative possibilities for funding from foreign banks, whether these operate in Greece or not. In addition, the elimination of the drachma and the introduction of the euro removed the relative advantage provided Greek banks by the national currency. [premium
content]
Golf
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The Rising Stars of Greek Golf:
Golf has never been, to adopt a phrase, a very Greek cup of coffee. By Greek National Team Coach Alan Egford's estimate, "Greece is missing out of billions -- not drachmas, not dollars, but pounds. That's an awful lot of money." Indeed, other countries have quickly seen, and seized upon, the potential that golfers offer. Spain has long been Europe's southern golf resort. In the last few years Turkey and Portugal have made massive investments to benefit from the growing number of golfers who will get away from a dreary North European climate for a few days of sunshine and golf. Financial returns for investors can be above average, especially at this early stage. Greece's golf enthusiasts think it is time for Greece to become a leader in a sport with such a vast potential.
[premium
content]
Greek economy
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Political brakes," Business File's third annual review of the Greek economy -- Special survey (December 2002):
After its success in achieving the convergence targets for membership of the EU's Economic and Monetary Union, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) government is now paying the political cost. It is trailing the conservative New Democracy opposition in opinion polls and it did poorly in the nationwide local elections in October 2002. The social democratic reformers in PASOK are under pressure from the left-wing of the party to return to free-spending socialist policies and senior figures have even suggested coalitions with parties to the left as a means of retaining power. This has put a political brake on the reform effort, which has slowed, despite the leadership's continuing efforts to achieve parity with eurozone living standards.
By Robert McDonald, a London-based freelance writer and
broadcaster with more than 35 years' experience of Greek public
affairs. He is also the contributor to the Economist
Intelligence Unit's quarterly Country Report: Greece.
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Views by
leading decision-makers, politicians and entrepreneurs:
12th
Hour of the Greek Economy [premium
content]
Insurance
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Time for a new policy
approach:
"It is high time that the Greek insurance industry develops an aggressive attitude in promoting itself as an ally to the State and to the business community," according to Nicholas Adamantiadis,
CEO of AIG Greece and the Canellopoulos - Adamantiadis Insurance Group. [premium
content]
Stock market
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Market
Guidance-Resources:
"All of us witnessed the amazing rise and fall of the world's stock
markets. Most of us had money at stake; much was made and, for some,
much was lost. Suppose, however, that we had missed all the frenzy and
all the fury, and now, untouched by the volatility of recent years, we
wish to investigate whether it is appropriate to test the financial
waters. With the Web as our guide, where might we go for guidance?" [premium
content]
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How
to evaluate an IPO [premium
content]
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Q & A stock market:
As the euro takes hold, markets vacillate. Aftershocks of September 11th continue to effect investor attitudes. Uncertain global trends are influencing local markets at a time when the Greek bourse was counting on "mature market" status to boost prices and confidence. Representative of five leading financial companies
(Achilleas Kontogouris, Managing Director, P&K Securities
AEPEY, Agamemnon Koliatsos, President, Laiki Attalos Securities
SA, Athanassios Mamakos, Managing Director, DF Securities
SA, Leetha J. Carlson-Spyropoulou, Head of Business Development,
Transcredit International, and Demetrios Mavridis, Director, Head of Derivatives,
EFG Eurobank Securities SA) offer their views on current market trends.
[premium
content]
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Greek equities in the
euro era:
International investors discovered the Athens Stock Exchange
in the late 1980s. Well-known investment institutions such as
Templeton and Schroders were among the first to invest in Greek
equities and by that time Greek "country funds" were
established and offered to global investors. In the 1990s, the Athens
Stock Exchange maintained a leading position among the global emerging
markets, offering exceptional returns to investors. In 2001 the status
of the Greek stock market was upgraded and it stands now among the
advanced global exchanges. This is a milestone in the long 126-year
history of the Athens Stock Exchange, but also underlines the
beginning of a more demanding era. By Mr. Apostolos D. Constantinidis, MBA, Investment Advisor -- European
Equities. [premium
content]
Tourism
/ hospitality industry
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Hilton
-- Business and Leisure in Rhodes:
Hilton International has added the Hilton Rhodes Resort to its Greek properties, offering a glamorous incentive location for both business and leisure. The hotel, located on 80 acres of prime, carefully landscaped waterside property just minutes from Rhodes town and a short hop to the airport, creates a totally new hotel environment for Hilton in Greece, one that combines the ultimate in a resort property with top notch facilities for a business gathering, conference or incentive event.
[premium
content]
Trends:
Corporate strategy in the global era
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Corporate Synergies: "You will never stand alone":
According to the news, many conglomerates around the world are selling off "non core" activities or assets.
"Buy low, sell high" is a "prime directive" not only in Finance, but in (almost?) every market transaction of any kind.
"Why would companies have engaged in "non core" activities in the first place", one might ask.
Maybe, at that time, these activities were considered to be part of the "core". After all, strategies do change, reflecting, inter alia, market conditions.
-- Global Business Analysis/Commentary by Nicholas
D. Panayotopoulos [career
summary]
[premium
content]
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Beyond corporate synergies: Expanding a corporation's potential:
"The concept of building conglomerates is not a new one. It comes and goes in and out of business fashion. The recent troubles reported in conglomerates around the world neither condemn nor justify the concept or the general logic. In
strategy, taking advantage of economies of scale and scope has always
been a proven concept. In recent years, the concept of synergies was
used widely. Conglomerates were built in the name of various types and
sources of synergistic value. I argue that the development of
successful synergies is a matter of case by case analysis and
effort." -- Analysis by Nicholas
D. Panayotopoulos [career
summary]
[premium
content]
United Nations in Greece
U.S. presence in Greece
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U.S.
commercial involvement in Northern Greece:
What does Thessaloniki mean in commercial terms? The usual answer
in Greece is that Thessaloniki is the gateway to the Balkans and the
hub of a new trading network that will restore the importance it enjoyed
as the second city in Byzantium. While it can be taxing and politically
dangerous to try to separate rumor from fact or wishful thinking from
accomplishment, it is evident that the changes in the region are steadily
strengthening the city's economy and its reputation as a Balkan commercial
center. The impact of globalisation, and the power of the perception
that only through trade can smaller Balkan countries achieve competitiveness
are both doing their work to further Thessaloniki's return to preeminence.
"We try to attract U.S. businesses to major projects here,
to promote cross border trade, and to look for ways of environmental
cooperation between U.S. and Greek experts." -- By Jeremy
Keller, Commercial Attache, U.S. Consulate, Thessaloniki. [premium
content]
Venues for
meetings, conferences and exhibitions in Greece
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Athinais
-- An Urban Venue with Attitude:
It's not often that Athens can boast of a space that combines the hard
edge of Gazi with the cool elegance of uptown. That combines
conference and exhibition space with art, restaurants, and cinema.
That helps revitalize a neighborhood with multi-use functionality from
morning to night. The new Athinais Culture and Conference Center,
housed in the renovated silk factory in Botanikos, downtown Athens,
offers new choices, not only for the Athenian entertainment scene, but
for businesses and organizations that desire an alternative venue for
meetings, conferences, and exhibitions. [premium
content]
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