Maria Torounidou
Thessaloniki
Summary
A results-oriented, strategic executive with a distinguished career spanning leadership roles in project and program management, culminating in a recent tenure as Chief Operating Officer. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams to drive revenue growth through innovative strategies and operational excellence, adept at fostering a cohesive company culture, optimizing performance metrics, collaborating with CEOs on fundraising and expansion efforts, and managing multiple projects successfully. A natural leader, who effectively manages and develops teams and understands the need to support the individual and the team to reach objectives. Extremely confident in business communication, negotiation, and decision-making with the ability to build strong partnerships at all levels. Pragmatic problem-solver and diplomatic communicator with strong reputation for successful operational oversight.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Operating Officer
Behavidence
New York , New York
05.2022 - Current
- Managed multi-functional teams including IT, Marketing, Sales, Data Science and Research, to ensure seamless business processes and achieve strategic objectives
- Delivered projects 90% on time, coordinating schedules with product leaders, UX and development teams.
- Established and enforced policies to foster cohesive company culture aligned with organizational vision, driving employee engagement and productivity
- Analysed market trends using customer data, research, market reports and regulations.
- Strategically led successful deployment of iOS and Android applications, marking pivotal milestone in product diversification and market expansion
- Developed product documentation to communicate and align key components of upcoming features and products to internal teams.
- Ensured accurate understanding of user needs by assessing and analysing feedback.
- Collaborated with sales, marketing and support teams to launch products on time and within budget.
- Translated unstructured work requests into actionable user stories, using Jira.
- Managed client expectations by ensuring clear, accurate completion of scoping documentation.
- Provided clarity on new features by conducting product training and demos.
- Identified opportunity for additional income, which through successful planning, customer - centric approach, marketing and product management became main company strategy with predicted revenue of over 1m dollars over 12 months.
Product manager
Behavidence
New York
05.2022 - 10.2022
- Led efficient development and successful launch of innovative SaaS platform within 6 weeks of development, demonstrating strong leadership despite challenging timelines.
- Managed product development cycle, prototyping designs and coordinating mass production.
- Implemented assessment mechanisms to evaluate and optimise existing product performance.
- Presented and gained approval for product propositions from stakeholders and senior management.
- Led and directed research and development staff to meet short- and long-term goals.
- Planned research activities to develop new processes, products and applications.
- Organised research and development programme for Post Partum Depression Study, establishing related goals, requirements and budgets.
- Implemented research findings into product development through design team collaboration.
- Created delivery plans and project-managed change initiatives for new products.
- Led cross-functional teams in developing, testing and launching new products.
Programme Manager - Digital Diagnostics Capability Programme for South East 2 Network (Home Reporting, Bleepa, iRefer, CDC Connectivity)
Cloud21
10.2021 - 03.2022
- Part of the Programme initiation team produced Programme PID, Business Case, Governance arrangements and Programme planning
- Was responsible for the delivery of the Programme and reported to the Program Director at ICS level and to NHSE
- Responsible for the implementation, evaluation and the sharing of lessons learned from the two Pilot projects (Bleepa, iRefer).
- Consulted with C-level executives, influencing high level decision-making.
- Led transformation programmes, establishing clear vision and standards for success.
Project Manager - Social Survey Transformation
Office for National Statistics
10.2020 - 05.2021
- Was responsible for the planning, delivery, analysis, risk assessment and evaluation for the Household Financial Survey project
- Produced weekly detailed reports for senior stakeholders
- Owner of project plan, communications plan and change management plan
- Defect and portfolio RAID management ensuring any changes were fully documented and signed off
- Produce as required and to agreed deadlines regular reports to the project board updating on progress and requirements
- Project brought back to planned schedule through extensive stakeholder management and excellent communication and negotiation skills.
Project Manager - Innovation and Change Department
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service
12.2019 - 10.2020
- Was responsible for planning, delivery, evaluation and budget of project
- Negotiated contract terms with staff Unions to successfully implement resisted contractual changes.
- Defect and portfolio RAID management ensuring any changes were fully documented and signed off
- Successful mitigation of Project Risks through thorough review of project plan and extensive communication with key stakeholders
- Mitigated local community change resistance through regular Stakeholder engagement via workshop planning and organisation of community engagement events
- Project delivered successfully within tight deadlines and within budget.
Project Lead (Organisational Management Structure Change)
East of England Ambulance Service
11.2017 - 12.2018
- Lead on Transformation project which focused on service delivery structure change to align with operational needs and STP alignment with budget in excess of £3m
- Was responsible for planning, delivery, evaluation and budget of project
- Successful mitigation of Project Risks through thorough review of project plan and extensive communication with key stakeholders
- Mitigated staff union change resistance through regular Stakeholder engagement via workshop planning and organisation of staff engagement events
- Project delivered successfully within tight deadlines and within budget.
Programme Manager
NHS Confederation
02.2017 - 11.2017
- Built and managed PMO office which was responsible for delivery of international and national programmes in excess of £1m budget
- Programme Manager for Brexit Health Alliance (BHA)
- Planning and implementation of National and International programmes
- Generated income of half million pounds through successful project bids and budget management
- Working in collaboration with team of 10 employees and stakeholders including executive managers, Government Ministers, CEOs and University Professors
- Trained and mentored junior members of staff on all aspects of project management.
Programme Manager (International recruitment campaign)
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
11.2015 - 02.2017
Business Manager / Deputy Director of Operations
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
11.2013 - 11.2015
Resource Coordinator (Human Resources department)
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
03.2012 - 11.2013
Emergency Medical Dispatcher
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
01.2010 - 03.2012
Cabin Crew
Easyjet Airline
06.2009 - 01.2010
Shop Manager
Arthur Morrice Opticians (Knightsbridge branch)
06.2008 - 06.2009
Assistant Manager (part time during studies)
Sight Care Opticians, London
06.2003 - 05.2008
Trainee dispensing optician (part time during studies)
Optique 2020, London
09.2002 - 05.2003
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical Science
Middlesex University
LondonSkills
- Team development
- Managing multi-disciplinary teams
- 9 years operations management
- Negotiation
- Global business operations
- Deductive reasoning ability
- Complex problem solving
- Financial leadership
- Analytical approach
- Product Development
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Strategic business acumen
- Languages: English, Russian, Greek (fluent in all)
- IT: Word, Excel, Power-point, Project Visio, SharePoint, Teams, Jira, Mondays, HubSpot, Slack, Google suite
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Certification
Prince2 Foundation and practitioner
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer
Behavidence
05.2022 - Current
Product manager
Behavidence
05.2022 - 10.2022
Programme Manager - Digital Diagnostics Capability Programme for South East 2 Network (Home Reporting, Bleepa, iRefer, CDC Connectivity)
Cloud21
10.2021 - 03.2022
Project Manager - Social Survey Transformation
Office for National Statistics
10.2020 - 05.2021
Project Manager - Innovation and Change Department
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service
12.2019 - 10.2020
Project Lead (Organisational Management Structure Change)
East of England Ambulance Service
11.2017 - 12.2018
Programme Manager
NHS Confederation
02.2017 - 11.2017
Programme Manager (International recruitment campaign)
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
11.2015 - 02.2017
Business Manager / Deputy Director of Operations
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
11.2013 - 11.2015
Resource Coordinator (Human Resources department)
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
03.2012 - 11.2013
Emergency Medical Dispatcher
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
01.2010 - 03.2012
Cabin Crew
Easyjet Airline
06.2009 - 01.2010
Shop Manager
Arthur Morrice Opticians (Knightsbridge branch)
06.2008 - 06.2009
Assistant Manager (part time during studies)
Sight Care Opticians, London
06.2003 - 05.2008
Trainee dispensing optician (part time during studies)
Optique 2020, London
09.2002 - 05.2003
Bachelor of Science - Biomedical Science
Middlesex University
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