Nassos Valakas
Maroussi
Summary
Versatile and resourceful Manager with strong organizational skills and business acumen supporting a range of business functions. Always motivated and stress-resistant, I strive for excellence and self-improvement. Specializing in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, I lead efforts to integrate sustainability into business operations, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring long-term resilience and stakeholder value creation.
With a profound understanding of packaging materials for industry and agriculture, I am also dedicated to pioneering sustainable solutions for packaging while raising awareness about Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Excellence Director & ESG Lead
Hellagro S.A.
02.2024 - Current
- Spearhead the development and implementation of business excellence strategies to optimize operational efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive sustainable growth.
- Lead cross-functional teams to identify areas for improvement and develop action plans to streamline processes and enhance performance across the organization.
- Serve as the primary driver of ESG initiatives, aligning business practices with environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance principles.
- Collaborate with stakeholders at all levels to embed sustainability into the company's culture, fostering awareness and engagement throughout the organization.
- Monitor industry trends and regulatory developments related to ESG, providing strategic guidance to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities.
- Work on establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to track progress, measure impact, and demonstrate the value of sustainability initiatives to internal and external stakeholders.
Foreign Sourcing Manager & Procurement Manager
Hellagro S.A.
12.2008 - 03.2013
- Managing a team of two
- Effective procurement of more than 3000 items
- Dealing with diverse suppliers or manufacturers (>100) mainly located in Europe, Middle East and Asia
- Negotiating business agreements and contracts, especially for exclusive partnerships
- Maintaining and developing in-depth business relations with vendors and staff
- Dealing successfully with quality defects, complaints and escalating issues
- Supplier performance evaluation based on certain KPIs
- Supervising and managing inventory optimum levels along with the procurement team
- Working constantly under pressure in a demanding and multi-tasking environment
- Keeping track of polymers price level (PE, PP, PVC) to achieve the optimum purchase pricing of plastic products, in conjunction with favorable foreign currency exchange rates
- Actively engaging marketing processes for branding and product promotion
- Trained and provided coaching to two junior team members.
Product Specialist CNS
Alapis S.A.
02.2005 - 09.2005
- High-level, in-depth briefing and updating of medical professionals in the fields of neurology and psychiatry on company's portfolio
- Researched product's technical specifications and accurately communicated information
- Implementation of promotional activities to pull new launches
- Product presentation to specific range of customers and key market leaders
- Gained access to new customers and increase revenue, profit margin and long term growth
- Familiarization with market conditions
- Built, developed and maintained long-term customer relations
- Development and execution of the Annual Business Plan.
Purchasing Manager / Account Manager
Hellagro S.A.
10.2004 - 02.2005
- Foreign procurement (responsible for all company's import activity)
- Negotiation and agreement of business contracts
- Global market research
- Placement, follow up and finalization of orders
- Planning, execution and monitoring of procurement budget
- Customer product individualization and customization
- Corporate advertising
- Main duties included developing and maintaining key customer business relationships
- Responsible for company compliance with ISO 9001:2000 standard.
Garden Designer / Sales Executive
Argianis Bros. S.A.
10.2004 - 02.2005
- Acquisition of new customers, business proposal negotiation, landscape planning and implementation, construction supervision
- Garden designer and landscape construction supervisor
- In addition, I had to perform administrative duties of corporate website.
Website Administrator
National Technical University Of Athens
10.2004 - 02.2005
- Administration and support of website 'ΦΥΛΟ ΚΑΙ ΧΩΡΟΣ (Gender and Space)'
Enlisted Sergeant in Ordnance Corps
Hellenic Army
03.2002 - 05.2003
Education
Data Analytics
E-learning, National And Kapodistrian University of Athens
Athens02.2024
Master of Science - Information Technology
Queen Mary, University of London
London, U.K.09.2004
Master of Science - Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural University of Athens - Athens, Greece
Athens, Greece07.2003
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Process Improvement
- Data Analysis & Decision Making
- Leadership & Team Management
- Sustainability Knowledge
- Analytical Thinking
- Multitasking
- Time Management
- Rules and regulations
Languages
Greek: Mother tongue.
English: Fluent (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency).
German: Moderate (Zertifikat Deutsch als Fremdsprache).
Coursework And Further Education
- Introduction to ESG, Corporate Finance Institute - Mar 2024
- Verified Certificate in Supply Chain Dynamics, MITx - Sep to Dec 2021
- Verified Certificate in Supply Chain Analytics, MITx - Apr to Aug 2021
- Verified Certificate in Supply Chain Fundamentals, MITx - Sep to Dec 2020
- Sustainable Packaging in a Circular Economy, Technical University Delft - Mar 2021.
- Supply Chain Management: A Learning Perspective, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology - Feb 2018
- Procurement Transformation with SAP Ariba and SAP S/4HANA, SAP AG - Dec 2017
- Supply Chain Principles, Georgia Institute of Technology - Nov 2017
- Strategic Sourcing – Supply Portfolio Analysis, Humantec - Oct 2013
- Marketing & GRID Evaluation Tool, Hellenic Open University - Apr to May 2013
- Advisory Seminar for Business, Agricultural University of Athens - Dec 2011
- CRM Program CEGEDIM: Mobile Intelligence, Alapis HQ - Jul 2011
- PSSRx – Professional Selling Skills: Four Core Skills, Customer Indifference & Concerns, Advanced Probing Strategies, AchieveGlobal - May 2010
- Doing Business in China, Exportakademie Baden-Württemberg - Oct 2006
- Cross Cultural Negotiations, Exportakademie Baden-Württemberg - Oct 2006
- European Integration & Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens - Oct 2000
Publications
10th Panhellenic Congress on Phytopathology, Kalamata, Greece, 10/10/2000, Chrysagi-Toscubalides M,Castanias M.,Valakas A.,Sklavos I.,'Comparative Study on Fungitoxicity of Anthracene Cynodontin and Three Synthetic Anthracenes'. Laboratory of Agricultural Pharmacology, Agricultural University of Athens.
Affiliations
- Member of Institute of Engineering & Technology, U.K.
- Member of Geotechnical Chambers of Greece
- Member of Royal Horticultural Society, U.K.
Timeline
Business Excellence Director & ESG Lead
Hellagro S.A.
02.2024 - Current
Foreign Sourcing Manager & Procurement Manager
Hellagro S.A.
12.2008 - 03.2013
Product Specialist CNS
Alapis S.A.
02.2005 - 09.2005
Purchasing Manager / Account Manager
Hellagro S.A.
10.2004 - 02.2005
Garden Designer / Sales Executive
Argianis Bros. S.A.
10.2004 - 02.2005
Website Administrator
National Technical University Of Athens
10.2004 - 02.2005
Enlisted Sergeant in Ordnance Corps
Hellenic Army
03.2002 - 05.2003
Data Analytics
E-learning, National And Kapodistrian University of Athens
Master of Science - Information Technology
Queen Mary, University of London
Master of Science - Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural University of Athens - Athens, Greece
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