General Director: DIMITRIS CARAMITSOS-TZIRAS
Diplomatic Career
Joined the Greek Diplomatic Service in 1983 and has served in a wide range of posts in the United States (New York and Los Angeles), in Bulgaria, in South Africa and in Canada. He has also held various positions at the Foreign Ministry in Athens, among others, EU Internal Market Director, Counter-terrorism Coordinator and UN Head of Section. His ambassadorial postings include:
– Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2009-2013)
– Chief Coordinator of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the European Union (2014)
– Director General for EU Affairs (2014-2016)
– Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2016-2020) and Permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
– Foreign Ministry’s Liaison with the “Greece 2021” National Committee, the official organizer of the celebrations surrounding the landmark anniversary of 200 years since the Greek Revolution of 1821 (2020-2021)
– Ambassador to Japan with parallel accreditation to Micronesia, Marshal Islands and Tuvalu (2022-2024)
– Director General for Development & Humanitarian Assistance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Other Activities
– From 2002 to 2004, General Manager and member of the Games Operation Committee at the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee (ATHOC).
– International Affairs (independent) Advisor at Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP, a London-based fund management (AIFM) supporting companies in Greece (2018-2023).
– Member of the Technology Transfer Committee of the GAPSTI Programme at the University of Cambridge and member of the Advisory Board of Cambridge Multiphysics (CMP).
– Member of the Advisory Board of the International Diplomatic & Business Exchange in London (2016-2020) and honorary member of the Board of the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF 2005-2014).
Honours and Personal
– Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix of the Hellenic Republic (2008)
– Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun-1st Class of Japan (2024)
– Freeman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers of the City of London (2019) He has studied Law & International Law at the Universities of Athens and Thessaloniki
Deputy Director General: NIKOLAIDOU ELENI
Ms. Eleni Nikolaidou has served for many years as Director of the Development Cooperation Policy Directorate (Z3) at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the Directorate-General for Development and Humanitarian Assistance (Hellenic Aid).
Throughout her professional career, Ms. Nikolaidou has held a number of senior advisory and executive positions. She has served as Special Adviser to Ministers and Deputy Ministers responsible for the Economy, Transport and Communications, Education, and Foreign Affairs. She also held the position of Director of International Relations at the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) for several years and previously worked in a senior capacity at KPMG Peat Marwick in Athens.
Ms. Nikolaidou has been seconded on two occasions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, during the periods 2012–2013 and 2025–2026, contributing to the preparations for and the exercise of the respective Cypriot Presidencies of the Council of the European Union.
Her international professional experience also includes serving as an Economist with Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations, based in London, where she was involved in the implementation of development programmes in developing countries. She began her professional career as an Economist at the Bank of Cyprus in Nicosia, providing advisory services to investors and exporters on business opportunities in Middle Eastern markets.
Ms. Nikolaidou studied Economics at Queen Mary College, University of London. She holds a Master of Science (MSc) in International Business and Economic Development from the University of Reading, as well as a postgraduate qualification in Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of London.