Piraeus Bank Chairman Honored by Hellenic American Business Association

The Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance (HABA) honored Dr. George Handjinicolaou, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Piraeus Bank and the Athens Stock Exchange, as its 2019 Executive of the Year.

In the ceremony which took place on Thursday, April 4th at the Union League Club of New York, Handjinicolaou, who returned to Greece in 2011 after a distinguished career in the US and the UK, said that his return coincided with the onset of the Greek economic crisis.

He noted that Piraeus Bank was now “making a difference, by strengthening the institutional framework in Greece, which is a necessary condition for sound economic decision-making.

“Sound decision-making can only be supportive of healthy entrepreneurship. And healthy entrepreneurship is the only way forward for Greece, as it leads to growth, creates new jobs and addresses the brain drain,” the Greek banker added.

He also referred to the new vitality in the Greek economy from young entrepreneurs, to whom he has imparted a more global knowledge of international markets, while he noted the importance of developing tourism and exports.

Among those present at the event were Piraeus Bank CEO Christos Megalou, Consul of Greece Lana Zochiou, the Greek Consulate’s Head of Economic & Commercial Affairs Georgios Michailidis and Commercial Attaché Vasilios Liveris.

Also attending the gala event was Trade Commissioner of Cyprus Aristos Constantine, Capital Link President Nicolas Bornozis, and Capital Link Managing Director Olga Bornozi.

HABA has honored prominent Greek-American executives in the business, private and public sectors who have distinguished themselves in their fields of endeavor since the year 1992.

Dr. Handjinicolaou’s illustrious career in the financial services sector spans over thirty-five years, the vast majority of which was spent at global financial institutions based in London and New York.

He held the position of Deputy CEO of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association in London for six years, from 2011 to 2016, where he was also a member of the board of directors.

For over 25 years prior to that time, Handjinicolaou held senior management positions in the derivatives and fixed income markets at several global financial institutions including Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and UBS in London and New York.

The banker began his career at the World Bank in Washington, DC.

Dr. Handjinicolaou received his PhD in Finance from the Graduate School of Business at New York University, where he also earned his MBA. He also earned a BS degree from the University of Athens Law School in Greece.

He also serves as Chairman of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, a non-profit charitable institution.

HABA was established in 1982 to promote the professional and educational interests of Hellenic-Americans and Philhellenes who are involved in the financial sector.