Team

Founder & Managing Partner

Ioannis A. Kofinis

Ioannis breathes politics. 

Ioannis’ prized career in public service – including appointments as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organization, Head of Cabinet of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Advisor to the Hellenic Parliament – has equipped him with a first-hand, comprehensive understanding of the political decision- making process and the system’s dynamics. 

He gets naturally into the policy-makers’ shoes and knows what to say and what not to, in order to create win-win solutions, avoid potential grievances and build the common ground, necessary to advance client interests. 

For over a decade now, Ioannis has been responsible for the advocacy efforts and strategic positioning of several leading industry associations and companies in diverse sectors, such as the Federation of Recycling and Energy Recovery Industries and Enterprises (SEPAN), Helactor SA and TRASTOR REIC. 

He is considered an expert in the tourism sector and has been crafting and executing public affairs and strategic communications programs for major institutional actors such as the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation, as well as global leaders such as Expedia and TUI. 

He has been currently mandated to build a program to position the sector on the frontline of the national recovery plan, linking tourism to the European Recovery Plan’s major priorities such as digitization, green economy etc. 

He holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from the Edmund A. Walsh School, Georgetown University and received his Bachelor’s degree from Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences in Athens. 

Partner

John G. Enepekides

John breathes stakeholder engagement.

He brings in extensive engagement experience, having spent countless hours at policy makers’ offices advancing client interests. He engages across the ladder of hierarchy, with a unique ability to swiftly profile personalities, prioritize needs and accumulate intelligence, while setting up the environment for a working relationship. 

He is considered a top-tier lobbyist in highly-regulated sectors, such as healthcare, aviation and security & defense, with an impressive track record of successful projects in public policy change, crisis management and procurement. 

He gained extensive experience while serving as Director of Public Affairs for Burson-Marsteller (Advocate/ Athens), where – among other projects – he was summoned to handle Siemens Hellas’ reputational crisis; at the same time, he has been the favorite consultant to major healthcare distributors (ie. Coloplast AS), setting the regulatory framework to defend and increase market shares. 

He is holding a record for negotiating – for ten (10) years in a row, the reimbursement list of medical devices and services, offered by the National Organization for the Provision of Health Services (E.O.P.Y.Y.). 

He has been cleared by at two global aerospace companies as a channel partner for Greece; he is currently working on procurement programs with the Hellenic Coast Guard, introducing systems that carry an Artificial Intelligence backbone, among other projects. 

He is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, while serving on the Board of Directors of the Ecali Club. 

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Tufts University), a post Graduate Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (University of Warwick) and a Masters in Business Administration (ALBA Business Graduate School). 

Senior Associate

Zacharias Loudaros

Zacharias breathes content.

He has been combining, for over 30 years, the experience in the media sector – print and digital, with the passion of a storyteller, skilled to strike the balance between creativity and analysis with metrics; he always successfully conveys the right message to the right audience.

Zacharias has created Prime-minister, Minister, Members of the Parliament and leading corporations’ CEO – level content on speeches, articles, interviews, talking points and sound bites for TV use.

During the last 10 years, he has perfected his specialization on digital communications. In particular, he oversaw the original and high-level content creation and publishing for one of the top 100 News sites.

He has acted – in parallel – as the Head of Content on marketing for major companies, such as DEPA (ΔΕΠΑ), PPC (ΔΕΗ), Olympia Odos (Ολυμπία Οδός) and Eurobank.

His passion for New Media has led him to the co- foundation of i-Dialogue, a non-for-profit company with a mission on effective digital communications for SMEs.

Director, Strategic Communications

Eva Voutsina

Eva breathes ……. strategic thinking and innovation!

She brings more than 15 years of experience in executive positions of Public Relations, Sustainability, Corporate Communications and Projects Management in leading multinational & diverse organizations of the Αutomotive, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, Aquaculture and other key business sectors.

She is specialized in developing and implementing comprehensive Internal, External and ESG Corporate Communication strategies that promote and protect Company’s, brand, reputation and business growth plans as well as elevate employees’, clients’ and various stakeholders’ experience and engagement.

Prior to joining effectus, Eva was leading Group Communications for Avramar Seafood Group for Greece and Spain. Before that, she was heading Internal Communications and Digital Tools for The Coca-Cola Company in Central and Southern Europe Business Unit.  She has also held the role of Public Relations and Communications Manager of Volvo Cars Greece.

Eva has studied Marketing & Communications at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. She is a results driven and positive strategic thinker with the ability to communicate effectively, inspire others, develop innovative ideas and create trustful relations.

Senior Consultant Government Relations

Valia Dioti

Valia breathes government relations

With a diverse background in the various aspects of communication and government relations, Valia earned her professional experience   in Athens, Paris and London.

Having served as the Head of Communication of the Minister of Citizen Protection, as a member of various social policy preparatory committees, as a Scientific Advisor at the Hellenic Parliament and as a Communication Advisor to the Minister of Infrastructure, Transports and Networks, she is equipped with a deep understanding of the Greek political system and policy making while maintaining a strong network.

She worked for 3,5 years in London with private equities and top influencing executives from various industries and upon her return to Greece she contributed to building up from zero the financial communication business unit at MSCOMM in Athens which she headed.

Previously, she worked as a journalist for various Greek and international media including SKAI, France24, Arte and Ethnos, in France and in Greece, covering the political landscape of France and Greece. Among the topics she covered, were the French presidential elections in 2012 as a special correspondent in Paris and the course of the Greek economic crisis in Athens.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Political Communication from the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Media & Culture from Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences in Athens.

Account Manager

Yulika Tzavara

Yulika breathes corporate communications. 

Yulika has five years solid experience from Communications and Public Relations agencies.  

She has acquired on-the-job knowledge in the design and implementation of integrated communication campaigns in Greece and abroad, with diverse clientele in Tourism, Environment, Aviation and Insurance sectors.  

Previously to joining effectus, Yulika was a Blue Book Trainee in DG COMM, European Commission’s Representation in Cyprus, gaining insights on institutional comms.  

She holds an MSc in Political Theory from London School of Economics and an MA in Public Policy from King’s University London. She has obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Essex, UK.