A personal message from the HBA-UK Chairman, George Katsikas

Dear Members, Colleagues, and Friends of HBA-UK,

As I come to the close of my tenure as Chairman of the Hellenic Bankers Association UK (HBA-UK), I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we have shared over the past two and a half years. It has been a profound honor to lead such an esteemed association, with a legacy spanning nearly three decades - an organization that has remained resilient and vibrant despite the significant shifts in the global economic, political, and social landscape. The last years have been marked by a renewed sense of purpose in our mission to strengthen the ties between the Greek diaspora and the international financial markets.

Strengthening Partnerships

One of our primary focus during this period has been to cultivate and expand our strategic partnerships. We proudly welcomed Cepal, Euronet, Euroxx, Howden, Machas & Partners, Max Partners London, Orrick, and KPMG as new corporate members, further broadening our network across legal and financial sectors. Our long-standing sponsors and partners, including Eurobank, National Bank of Greece, Piraeus, and Reed Smith, continued to provide invaluable support to our initiatives. These collaborations have enhanced our capacity to deliver top-tier events, promote professional development, and bridge the gap between the UK and Greek financial markets.

Networking & Community Building

Building and strengthening our community has been at the heart of our mission. Over the past two years, we successfully hosted two Annual Christmas Galas, both of which hit all time record-high participation and were significant milestones in fostering professional connections within the Greek diaspora. At the 2023 Gala, we were honored to welcome VIP speakers such as Christos Staikouras, former Minister of Finance of Greece. The 2024 Gala was graced by Constantinos Herodotou, Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, alongside Alexandros Exarchou, Vice Chairman & CEO of Intrakat S.A., and Sofia Zacharaki, Greek Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs. These events not only celebrated our heritage but also provided invaluable opportunities for professional networking and collaboration.

High-Profile Events

Our aim has also been to host impactful, intellectually stimulating events that foster dialogue within our professional community. One such event, was our collaboration with the LSE Hellenic Observatory in March 2024, where we hosted Yannis Stournaras, Governor of the Bank of Greece. His address shed light on Greece’s economic evolution and the country’s resilience. Another highlight was the Ithacans event in collaboration with Alpha Bank, which sought to bridge the gap between Greek professionals thriving abroad and the demand for talent in Greece. These events not only inspired thoughtful discussions but also underscored the global relevance of Greek banking and finance professionals.

Special Thanks 

None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the dedication and support of an incredible team. I am deeply grateful to the Executive Committee members I had the pleasure of working with: Argyris Chatzilias, Iossif Kiouroukoglou, Konstantinos Kostopoulos, Theo Nikolaidis, Martha Pachatouridi. I would like to extend a special thanks to Xenofon Zacharoudis, our Vice Chairman, whose leadership, vision, and tireless commitment to our cause have been instrumental in guiding many of our key initiatives, and I am confident that his contributions will continue to shape the future of HBA-UK.

Looking Ahead

As I prepare to pass the baton to my successor, I am confident that HBA-UK will continue to grow and thrive. The incoming leadership will undoubtedly bring fresh energy and vision to our shared mission. I encourage all of you—our members, partners, and friends—to remain engaged, participate actively in our events, and leverage the network we have built together over the years.

We will be holding elections during the week commencing 4th November 2024. We invite all our friends and members in good financial standing to submit their interest in becoming members of the new Executive Committee, that will subsequently vote for our new Chairman, by 1st November 2024.

Thank you for your trust and support throughout my tenure. It has been a privilege to serve as an HBA UK Chairman, and I look forward to seeing this remarkable community, to which I will remain wholeheartedly close, continuing to flourish in the years to come.

Kind Regards,
George Katsikas
Chairman, Hellenic Bankers Association UK (2022-2024)