GEORGE JOAKIMIDIS

George Joakimidis started his career in public accounting and auditing in South Africa. After leaving the profession he joined Young & Rubicam, one of the leading international advertising agencies, where he was employed as an accountant in the Athens-based regional office. He subsequently joined Schlumberger, a major international oil services company where he held various financial positions with assignments in Athens, Cairo and London.

His next career move was to Johnson & Johnson, a major multinational health care company which at the time served the consumer, pharmaceutical and professional markets. During his long and illustrious career with this US multinational he held various positions of increasing responsibility, initially in Finance and later in Sales & Marketing. He served as a senior member of numerous management teams and as a board member of several of the company's international affiliates. With assignments involving Pan European responsibilities, and tenures in operating and management units in Greece, the US and Italy, he significantly broadened his international business experience during his association with this well-known Fortune 500 company. As an active member of the business community, he was elected a director and served as a board member of various Industry and Trade organizations in Greece.

Following his departure from J&J he embarked on a second career in money management with a focus on the US equity markets. In 2002 he joined the Gerolymatos Group as Chief Operating Officer (COO). At the time, the Gerolymatos Group was a leading local Health & Beauty enterprise. As COO, he had direct responsibility for the Group's diverse health & beauty franchises with the General Managers of the various business units (Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, Diagnostics, Animal Health, OTC, Pharmaceutical Wholesale & Logistics) reporting directly to him. In addition to these responsibilities, he also had responsibility for Information Technology.

Following the acquisition of the Gerolymatos Group by Alapis, a company which at the time was listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, George left the Gerolymatos Group in 2009 and co-founded Leriva where he holds the position of Group Chief Executive Officer.

George Joakimidis was born in New Zealand and brought up in South Africa. His professional career spans decades of extensive experience in a multitude of markets and disciplines with numerous international postings. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (B.Com) and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).