Akis Kastanopoulos has over 20 years of experience in international business development, marketing, and sales. He has worked with companies in food and beverage exporting and has organized their participation in numerous international trade shows. He is fluent in English and has basic German skills.

1. SRYRIDON (AKIS) KASTANOPOULOS
Address Venizelou 46, Thessaloniki, 567 28, Greece
Mobile Telephone +30 6989 601009
E-mail akis_kastan@yahoo.com
Webpage www.linkedin.com/in/akiskastanopoulos
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, Thessaloniki, Greece 11/09-present
Exports, trade, investments, marketing. Partner with local companies worldwide. Offered in-house
and/or free lance services to quality food & drink producing & trading companies (olive oil, dairies,
honey, salt, vinegar, frozen products, etc) with their current and new clients.
Have organized and implemented formal company participations and/or visits to HOFEX / Hong
Kong, Fancy Food / USA, SIAL / France, ANUGA / Germany , Annapoorna / India & Seoul Food
Week / S.Korea (participated with the European Uniin mission), Foodapest / Hungary, Foodist /
Turkey, Frozen 09 / Spain, Rimini Fiera / Italy, Polagra / Poland, Artoza / Greece etc.
Additional services: design and content management of the packaging labels, printed and electronic
catalogs/ brochures / presentations/ pricelists / invoices / websites and generally the company image,
negotiation of sales and co-operation contracts, new product development, contacts with customs’
agents, transportation companies, etc
ALFA A.KOUKOUTARIS AEBE, Kozani, Greece 5/08-10/09
www.alfa.org.gr
Exports Manager for major frozen food producer and trader, responsible for international
marketing and business development, export operations, trade show organizing, contract
negotiations, website content management, product catalog. Awarded at Taste09 ANUGA.
PRODESK LTD, Thessaloniki, Greece 11/03-2/05
General Manager for office supplies store network, member of Business Products Group
International, responsible for local and international purchasing contracts, affiliated members,
marketing strategy and intelligence for Greece, website, Β2Β product catalog, monitoring network
sales and purchases, member of the BPGI Purchasing Council and Managers Council
EFTHYMIADIS GROUP OF COMPANIES, Sindos, Greece 2/01-10/02
www.efthymiadisgroup.gr
New Business Development Manager
In cooperation to strategic partner MITSUI & CO.
DESALINATION PROJECT, responsible for financial/legal/technical issues for the development and
sale to the public and private sector of the Built-Operate-Transfer model for desalination plants
NETAGRO S.A., responsible for all export operations, content management of company website and
new product development for a processed fruits joint venture promoting the Good Agricultural
Practice (GAP) model
HELLENIC FARMING S.A., responsible for research on new market penetration, logistics,
production, pricing, and the construction of a new facility for the new joint venture in fresh fruits and
vegetables using the GAP Protocol
COMPUCON S.A., Thessaloniki, Greece 5/00-9/00
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2. www.compucon.gr
Marketing Manager for a leading international embroidery and medical software development
company, duties including marketing plan, website management, e-business, affiliate marketing
HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL SERVICES, NY, USA 6/97-3/99
www.householdfinance.com
Account Executive up & cross selling of personal loans, mortgages, and insurance for debt-
consolidation and refinancing, customer service, and debt collection
ANTENNA SATELLITE TV-USA, NJ, USA 3/96-12/96
National Account Manager for the Dish Network satellite TV system and program, conducting
sales, post-sales customer service and technical support, and promotional activities
EDUCATION
Post-MBA, Systems Analysis & Design, CUNY, Baruch College, 1994
Using SQL designed the return process for a car rental and a videotape rental company
MBA, Marketing Management, CUNY, Baruch College, 1992
Recipient of the Greek-Orthodox Archdiocese Tuition Scholarship
Conducted competitive strategic analysis for Campbell Soup Co and for Harley Davidson Co
BA, Economics, Aristotelian University, Thessaloniki, Greece, 1989
Conducted technical and financial feasibility study for a new tourist resort and hotel unit
TRAINING
2015 Extrovert Competitiveness through higher value added products, Erasmus+, Germany
2015 EU Foreign Trade & Internal Market Law, University of Macedonia
2009 International Pricing and Commercial Conditions, Global Greece, Thessaloniki
2007 Mass Customization: Application & Best Practices, S.T.A.R. / F.I.N.G., Thessaloniki
2006 Management Skills Development, IMESE, Thessaloniki
2005 Sales Negotiation Techniques, Commerce & Industry Chamber, Thessaloniki
2004 Business Restructuring & Benchmarking, Commerce & Industry Chamber, Thessaloniki
2002 Management of SMEs: Financial, accounting, marketing, and legal issues, University of
Macedonia, Thessaloniki
2001 IT Systems: ERP-CRM-SCM-BPR, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki
CONVENTIONS
2013 Export Summit II: Inspiring Trade Globally, S.E.V.E., Thessaloniki, www.exportsummit.gr
2012 Export Summit: Roadmap to Growth, S.E.V.E., Thessaloniki, www.exportsummit.gr
2012 Black Sea Business Forum, Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), Thessaloniki
2011 2nd
Regional Business Forum: Regional Economic Cooperation between Greece & Turkey,
Union of Hellenic Chambers of Commerce, Komotini
2010 16th
ICT Forum: New Technological Solutions for the enterprise, the government and the
citizen, Helexpo, Thessaloniki
2010 Extroversion Support Systems, Exports’ Research & Studies Institute, Thessaloniki
2009 Industry 2020: Innovation –Extroversion – Regional Development, F.I.N.G., Thessaloniki
2007 4th
International Conference on Enterprise Systems, Accounting, and Logistics, Corfu
2007 3rd
Greek Export Managers Forum, Hellenic Export Promotion Organization, Thessaloniki
2006 2nd
TIF Business Forum: Business Innovation, Helexpo, Thessaloniki
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3. 2005 1st
Retail Market and Shopping Center Development Conference, Commerce & Industry
Chamber, Thessaloniki
2004 1st
International Convention: Best Practices on Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Observatory
for Regional Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Thessaloniki
2003 1st
Marketing Forum of South Eastern Europe: Marketing Orchestrates Business Integration
in South Eastern Europe, Greek Business Administration Association, Thessaloniki
2003 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Central Macedonia, F.I.N.G., Thessaloniki
2002 Marketing Planning in the EU Environment, Greek Business Administration Association,
Thessaloniki
2002 E-Commerce in Agriculture & Food Industry, Greek Society of Information &
Communication in Agriculture, Food, and Environment, University of Agronomy, Athens
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Proven leadership in sales, marketing and product promotion
• In charge of website content, e-business, corporate image programs, and ad campaigns
• Consistently met and exceeded sales targets
• Developed and managed new accounts, reopened closed and followed up on delinquent accounts
• Reduced average payment days per customer by 50% (in the US)
• Successfully handled huge databases and coordinated interdepartmental activities for the timely
and efficient negotiation of financial contracts
• Provided technical support, customer service, and P/R to promote new products and services
Hands-on operations and management experience resulting in increased company performance
• Coordinated development of internet and mail catalog, information and order shipping operations,
customer requests and merchandising needs for 200 food product codes
• Processed bank reconciliation, import documents, payroll and sales reports, and verified financial
data necessary for utilization by CPA
• Coordinated accounting, invoicing, A/P, A/R, and inventory for 200 food product codes
• Effectively interfaced with engineers, management and staff throughout all departments
• Reduced customer disputes and returns by 40% through product knowledge and negotiations in
culturally diverse environments
Successful in activities requiring excellent peoples skills
• Volunteered in fundraising, phone soliciting, and public relations for the “Tsongas For
President Committee” in Brooklyn, NY, USA
• Hired, trained, and supervised staff of up to15 employees
• Set up booths and represented companies at international trade fairs, conferences, and events
• Conducted marketing research study for the attitude change and ambivalence at the U.S.
presidential elections in NYC, NY, USA
GENERAL
• Languages: Greek (mother tongue), English (fluent), German (basic, Grundstuffe diploma 1981)
• Information Technologies: ERP, CRM, ΒΙ, e-commerce B2B portals, online social networks.
• Member of the Greek Business Administration Association, Thessaloniki, Greece
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4. • Member of the N. Greece Alumni Association of American Universities, Thessaloniki, Greece
• Member for five years of the American Marketing Association, New York, NY
• Member for four years of the Japan Society, New York, NY
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