What are the future prospects and challenges of the Greek banking sector? Will investors show increased appetite for Greek credit on the back of the Greek debt rally? How will the Greek banks try to tackle the highest percentage of NPLs amongst all Eurozone member-states based on their new action plans? A panel of experts discussed about the key catalysts, risks and opportunities ahead for the four systemic banks and the Greek economy overall.

Speakers:

Alon Avner has been the Head of Bain Capital Credit Europe since 2009. He is a Managing Director in Distressed and Special Situations and a Credit Committee member based in Bain Capital Credit’s London office. Between 2006 and 2009, Alon was responsible for Bain Capital Credit's European Telecom and Media investments. Previously, Alon was a Manager at Bain & Company.

Sabina Dziurman is the Director for Greece and Cyprus at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) since 2015. She became staff member of EBRD in 2004 initially joining the Group for Small Business and later the Financial Institutions Group which provides equity and a range of debt products to 350 partner institutions across EBRD’s countries of operations. She successfully led landmark transactions such as the rescue of Latvia’s Parex Bank and the EBRD’s first investment in Cyprus in the Bank of Cyprus. 

Christos Megalou is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Executive Board Member of the Board of Directors of Piraeus Bank SA. From 2013 to 2015 he was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eurobank Ergasias SA. Μr. Megalou held senior positions at Credit Suisse Investment Banking for over 16 years in London, UK. 

Anastasia Sakellariou is the CEO of Praxia Bank. She has served as investment advisor to Atlas Merchant Capital in their acquisition of Credicom. She started her career in London in investment banking holding positions in bulge bracket firms including Deutsche Bank, Salomon Brothers and Credit Suisse specializing in credit and credit restructuring as well as leverage finance, asset liability management, underwriting and risk management. She has held an executive position as senior advisor to the Chairman of Piraeus Bank and later as Chief Risk Officer of Hellenic Postbank. In February 2013 she was appointed CEO of the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF).  

Chair: 

Κevin Featherstone is Eleftherios Venizelos Professor in Contemporary Greek Studies and Professor in European Politics. He is the Director of the Hellenic Observatory.

Welcoming Address: 

Louis Loizou is the Chairman of the Hellenic Bankers Association – UK and Alumni of London School of Economics

Photos 
View photos here. 

Podcast
Listen to the podcast here. 

Video
Watch the video here.

The twitter Hashtag for this event is: #LSEGreece

The Hellenic Observatory  (@HO_LSE)  is internationally recognised as one of the premier research centres on contemporary Greece and Cyprus. It engages in a range of activities, including developing and supporting academic and policy-related research; organisation of conferences, seminars and workshops; academic exchange through visiting fellowships and internships; as well as teaching at the graduate level through LSE's European Institute.