In a recent announcement, Antonis Rouvas, the newly appointed interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hellenic Bank, has unveiled his strategic vision to drive transformation and address longstanding challenges within the institution. Rouvas, formerly the Chief Financial Officer of the bank, assumes the role following a mutually agreed separation from German executive, Oliver Gatzke.

Central to Rouvas's agenda is the commitment to usher in significant changes while effectively navigating complex issues that have been pending at the bank. Notably, the bank's collective agreement with its staff stands as a key focal point for reform. The interim CEO expressed his determination to lead these changes in collaboration with the Board of Directors, underlining a proactive approach to resolving the matter.

"I embark on this role with a profound awareness of its responsibilities. Today marks a new phase where we roll up our sleeves and continue our pursuit of objectives with unwavering dedication," stated Rouvas in a message directed towards the bank's workforce.

Addressing the challenges faced by the bank, Rouvas reaffirmed the resilience of its underlying business model. He stressed the imperative of safeguarding and reinforcing this model, indicating a dedicated focus on sustaining the bank's core functions.

"Our foundation is solid, and I am fully committed to driving reforms and, guided by the Board of Directors, addressing longstanding matters, including the pending collective agreement," Rouvas affirmed.

Underscoring customer relations as a top priority, Rouvas emphasized the importance of delivering seamless and efficient services that meet client needs. He conveyed the bank's readiness to provide support to both households and businesses in Cyprus, while intensifying efforts to tackle the issue of non-performing loans. Rouvas extended a commitment to assist vulnerable segments of the population, in line with the bank's societal role.

Rouvas also expressed his gratification in garnering unanimous support from the Board of Directors and the Management Team for his strategic direction.

"To achieve our set goals, a forward-looking, collective effort is essential. We must collaborate with dedication, each contributing from their distinct vantage point. Ultimately, the essence of the bank lies in its people," concluded the interim CEO.

Meanwhile, the National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) Ltd disclosed the appointment of Philip Mannaris as an Independent Non-Executive Member and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mannaris, an accomplished alumnus of the London School of Economics & Political Science, brings a wealth of expertise in Actuarial Science. He is a certified actuary and holds a Corporate Governance certificate from INSEAD. With a distinguished tenure as the head of Aon Solutions Cyprus since 2003, Mannaris has been instrumental in providing strategic counsel to the Group across Cyprus and the Middle East.

The bank's leadership conveyed their best wishes for Mannaris's success, anticipating his substantial contribution to the work of the Board of Directors and the broader strategic direction of the institution.