OTE - Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA
OTE - Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA
02/13/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/13/2023 09:24
Michael Tsamaz - Honorary Doctorate from the University of Piraeus
The University of Piraeus to award an Honorary Doctorate to the Chairman and CEO of the OTE Group, Michael Tsamaz.
As stated in the university's announcement, "at its meeting on February 7th, 2023, the Senate of the University of Piraeus unanimously decided to award an Honorary Doctorate to Michael Tsamaz, Chairman and CEO of the OTE Group, following the recommendation and the unanimous decision of the Department of Business Administration." As noted, "the Award Ceremony will take place at a time to be announced."
The Senate's decision was based on the contribution made by the head of OTE Group towards promoting the Greek economy and entrepreneurship through his entrepreneurial activities and his contribution to Hellenism and society.
Entrepreneurship and the economy
Under Michael Tsamaz's management, the OTE Group is an example of a company whose strategic choice is to face crisis as an opportunity and to move forward.
In 2010, the OTE Group, as a former state monopoly, had unwieldy structures and procedures, resulting in high operating costs and a lack of competitiveness. To ensure the company's sustainability, the Tsamaz management implemented a series of actions to reduce and renew loan obligations, which allowed it, in the midst of the crisis, to invest €5 billion in Greece, mainly in next-generation networks. At the same time, it successfully implemented the programme for the Group's radical transformation into a modern, efficient and competitive technology company. It modernised systems and procedures, simplified internal structures, changed the corporate culture, and became customer-centred. It reduced labour costs in a socially responsible manner and renewed its human resources, offering jobs to talented young people. At the same time, high-speed internet and innovative products were designed and launched, with OTE gradually becoming active in new markets: COSMOTE TV, ICT, electronic payments (Payzy), online food orders (BOX), COSMOTE Insurance.
In 2016, Michael Tsamaz articulated the OTE Group's vision of becoming a model for digital transformation in Greece and Europe. The Group swiftly implemented a 360° digital transformation strategic programme on three pillars: customer experience, networks, and internal operation. Thanks to its state-of-the-art networks and the ICT projects it implemented, the OTE Group established itself as a digital transformation force for society, enterprises and the country.
The strategic continuous transformation over these past 12 years has borne fruit. Today, the OTE Group:
Contribution to Hellenism and society
In 2011 OTE became one of the first companies in the country to adopt the principles of Sustainable Development and integrate them into the company's overall strategy, operations and actions. As a result, the Group has demonstrated great work on 4 pillars: climate neutrality, circular economy, inclusion & equal opportunities at work, and digital society for all, heading the sustainability strategy for 10 companies of the Deutsche Telekom Group in Europe.
The Group's social contribution has exceeded €40 billion over the past 10 years. Long-term programmes include:
Biography
Michael Tsamaz was born in 1959 in Kaisariani and grew up in Agios Dimitrios, Attica. His father came from Philadelphia, Asia Minor, and his mother came from Chania, Crete. He has two children.
He took up his first front-line leadership post at the young age of 32, when he became the marketing manager of a multinational company in Greece. As early as 2001, he held a number of positions of responsibility at OTE, with a leading role in the rationalisation of the Group's international operations. He has served on the Boards of Group subsidiaries abroad, throughout the Balkans, and as a member of the BoD of EE in the UK. He took over as Chairman and CEO of OTE Group on 3 November 2010, a position he holds to this day. He is the longest-serving head of the Group.
He has been a member of the SEV BoD since July 2016 and, in November 2016, was appointed head of the SEV Digital Economy Committee.
Mr. Tsamaz holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick in Canada.
As stated in the university's announcement, "at its meeting on February 7th, 2023, the Senate of the University of Piraeus unanimously decided to award an Honorary Doctorate to Michael Tsamaz, Chairman and CEO of the OTE Group, following the recommendation and the unanimous decision of the Department of Business Administration." As noted, "the Award Ceremony will take place at a time to be announced."
The Senate's decision was based on the contribution made by the head of OTE Group towards promoting the Greek economy and entrepreneurship through his entrepreneurial activities and his contribution to Hellenism and society.
Entrepreneurship and the economy
Under Michael Tsamaz's management, the OTE Group is an example of a company whose strategic choice is to face crisis as an opportunity and to move forward.
In 2010, the OTE Group, as a former state monopoly, had unwieldy structures and procedures, resulting in high operating costs and a lack of competitiveness. To ensure the company's sustainability, the Tsamaz management implemented a series of actions to reduce and renew loan obligations, which allowed it, in the midst of the crisis, to invest €5 billion in Greece, mainly in next-generation networks. At the same time, it successfully implemented the programme for the Group's radical transformation into a modern, efficient and competitive technology company. It modernised systems and procedures, simplified internal structures, changed the corporate culture, and became customer-centred. It reduced labour costs in a socially responsible manner and renewed its human resources, offering jobs to talented young people. At the same time, high-speed internet and innovative products were designed and launched, with OTE gradually becoming active in new markets: COSMOTE TV, ICT, electronic payments (Payzy), online food orders (BOX), COSMOTE Insurance.
In 2016, Michael Tsamaz articulated the OTE Group's vision of becoming a model for digital transformation in Greece and Europe. The Group swiftly implemented a 360° digital transformation strategic programme on three pillars: customer experience, networks, and internal operation. Thanks to its state-of-the-art networks and the ICT projects it implemented, the OTE Group established itself as a digital transformation force for society, enterprises and the country.
The strategic continuous transformation over these past 12 years has borne fruit. Today, the OTE Group:
- contributes 2.7% of GDP.
- is the largest telecommunications investor (>60% of the sector's investments) and one of the largest overall investors in the country (€5 billion euros over the decade and an additional €3 billion by 2027).
- accounts for 10% of the capitalisation of the Athens Stock Exchange.
- boasts a share increase of 407% from 2012 to 2022, outperforming the European telecommunications index (-25%).
- creates some 75,000 direct and indirect jobs.
- is present with its services in most Greek households.
- is one of the most profitable companies of the Deutsche Telekom Group (accounting for 30% of the Group's revenues in the European sector).
Contribution to Hellenism and society
In 2011 OTE became one of the first companies in the country to adopt the principles of Sustainable Development and integrate them into the company's overall strategy, operations and actions. As a result, the Group has demonstrated great work on 4 pillars: climate neutrality, circular economy, inclusion & equal opportunities at work, and digital society for all, heading the sustainability strategy for 10 companies of the Deutsche Telekom Group in Europe.
The Group's social contribution has exceeded €40 billion over the past 10 years. Long-term programmes include:
- The Scholarship Programme, with over 750 scholarships over the past 20 years, providing €7 million
- €9 billion for 60 organisations that support children
- Supporting the creation and equipment of 19 trauma centres in Greek hospitals that host 100,000 children annually.
- Significant financial support for the Hellenic Armed Forces, Coast Guard and Hellenic Police, providing €2 million
Biography
Michael Tsamaz was born in 1959 in Kaisariani and grew up in Agios Dimitrios, Attica. His father came from Philadelphia, Asia Minor, and his mother came from Chania, Crete. He has two children.
He took up his first front-line leadership post at the young age of 32, when he became the marketing manager of a multinational company in Greece. As early as 2001, he held a number of positions of responsibility at OTE, with a leading role in the rationalisation of the Group's international operations. He has served on the Boards of Group subsidiaries abroad, throughout the Balkans, and as a member of the BoD of EE in the UK. He took over as Chairman and CEO of OTE Group on 3 November 2010, a position he holds to this day. He is the longest-serving head of the Group.
He has been a member of the SEV BoD since July 2016 and, in November 2016, was appointed head of the SEV Digital Economy Committee.
Mr. Tsamaz holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick in Canada.