Yanos Michopoulos

Yanos is a well-respected Board Chairman and Director with over 30 years of senior executive experience across various sectors in the EMEA region (notably in Energy, including Renewables, Infrastructure and Transportation).

Until recently, Yanos was the Chair of the BoD of DESFA, the newly privatised, but still regulated Gas Transmission System Operator in Greece, where he oversaw the company’s transformation from a public enterprise to private, and from a local business model to international, while improving its corporate governance framework and developing and implementing an integrated ESG strategy.

His previous roles include membership of Board-like senior executive teams (top 1%) at regional and global levels within international companies (Shell and Vestas), a Global Sales role for a US-based, PE-backed nanotechnology company and CEO of TRAINOSE, the only Railway operating company in Greece. He has managed large P&Ls (> 1 bl €) and complex KPIs, led major change projects, including major organisational and cultural transformations, financial and performance turnarounds, introduction of new products and services, new market entries etc. He has led, mentored, and coached large and diverse teams, operating (virtually) across different functions, and distributed in various locations, countries, and cultures.

In addition to his Board directorships, Yanos is active as a Guest MBA / Executive Education speaker, corporate governance and leadership development course leader, mentor, and coach. He works with the UK’s Institute of Directors and Energy Institute, New Energy Business School in NL, and other training organisations.

Yanos has a PhD in Physics from Durham University (UK) and he recently obtained his CFA-accreditation in ESG / Sustainability investing.