Company
Our vision is to deliver the best‐in‐class entertainment in safe and responsible way, generate sustainable value to all stakeholders and give back to society.
Investors
Chairman & CEO
Jan Karas was appointed OPAP’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and executive member of the Board Directors in December 2020, after successfully serving the company for nearly seven years, from various senior roles. In October 2024 he was also appointed as Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors. He joined OPAP in January 2014 and during his tenure with the company, he has led the operations, development and modernization of the company’s retail and indirect sales networks, overseeing activities related to sales, retail marketing, customer and partner support. Moreover, he has also been in charge of the operation and management of OPAP’s gaming and non‐gaming commercial activities, across all retail and online channels, and contributed significantly to OPAP’s initiatives and response to the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic. Overall, Jan has a proven track record in delivering strong business results, as well as broad professional experience in developing solid commercial strategies and implementing successful retail and sales development programs. Before joining OPAP, he held several high‐ranking positionsin Marketing, Sales and Product Development in the Telecommunications sector, in the Czech Republic and Germany. Throughout his career, Jan has been focused on pursuing and following a customer‐centric mindset, promoting positive change and developing high‐performing and cross‐ functional teams.
Executive BoD Member & Advisor to the Chairman and CEO
Born in Ceska Lipa in the Czech Republic. In 1984 Mr. Ziegler graduated from the University of Economics, Faculty of Trade, in Prague. In 1996 he graduated from the Southern Graduate School of Banking at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He began his professional career at the State Bank of Czechoslovakia where he served in different managerial positions: he worked as an Executive Director for Finance at Komercni banka, Prague, and then as a deputy CEO and Board member at Czech Savings Bank. Thereafter, he was appointed Chairman of the Board and CEO in the Czech state‐owned Consolidation Bank. After that he served as Chairman of the Board and CEO in Raiffeisenbank Czech Republic. He also held the position of Executive Director for Finance and Board Member in the PPF Group. His last executive appointment was as the CEO and proxy holder in SAZKA A.S., the largest Czech lottery organisation, where he is currently serving as a Board member. Mr. Ziegler has been also a member of the Board of Directors and member of Supervisory Boards of many companies in the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Cyprus and Austria. He served as Executive Chairman of OPAP’s Board of Directors from 2013 to September 2024, while he also held the position of CEO during 2013-2016. In October 2024 he was appointed Executive Member of the Board of Directors and Advisor to the Chairman and CEO on corporate affairs and strategy.
Deputy CEO
Odysseas Christoforou holds a Degree in Political Science from the Panteion University and a MSc in Public Relations & Communication from the Ulster University, Belfast.
He began his career at accounting firm Arthur Andersen and later became Marketing General Manager at Ernst & Young and worked as Communication General Manager at Emporiki Bank and the Bank of Cyprus.
From 2008 to 2014 he served as General Manager at the Bank of Greece where he was primarily in charge of the supervision and coordination of administrative units for providing liquidity to Greek banks via the Eurosystem as well as communication with relevant institutions abroad.
He has been at OPAP since 2014, initially holding the position of Chief Corporate Communications Officer. Since 1 July 2019, Odysseas Christoforou is OPAP Deputy CEO. As part of his duties, he covers the areas of Corporate & Commercial Communication, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, Corporate Affairs, Media Relations, Sponsorships and Corporate Social Responsibility.
He loves basketball and watches the games of his favorite team Panathinaikos.
CFO, Executive Director
Mr. Pavel Mucha has officially assumed his role as Chief Financial Officer at OPAP, on 1 October 2019. Prior to OPAP he had 26 years of professional experience. Having graduated from University of Economics and Business in Prague in 1992, he started his career as tax consultant (Price Waterhouse), and later he held various finance and CFO positions in pharmaceutical (Wyeth Whitehall in Czech and Slovakia) and FMCG companies (Rothmans/BAT in the UK, Cyprus and Czech and in Stock Spirits Group in Czech and Slovakia). Before joining OPAP he held the position of Chief Financial Officer at Sazka, the national lottery operator of the Czech Republic, which is a member of SAZKA Group.
Chief Technology Officer
Argyris joined OPAP family in June 2020 and he was appointed as Chief Technology Officer on the 1st of July 2020. Prior to this role, Argyris was the CTO of Intracom Holdings, responsible for driving Technology Strategy and the representation of the company in Technology and Innovation Forums. Argirios has worked for many years in Technology, with leading positions in Gaming and Telecommunications. He previously was the Group CTO of Intralot, and the CIO of Vodafone and Hellas On Line. He started his professional career as a Software Developer working for Ericsson development centers in Germany, Spain and Ireland. He holds a Master of Science Degree (MSc.) in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc.) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, USA, as well as an Executive MBA Degree from Athens University of Economics and Business. Argyris has a passion for sea sports and loves traveling on a boat with his wife and kids. In his free time he enjoys watching football and basketball with his friends.
Chief Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Officer
Anastasia (Nancy) Verra is the Chief Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Officer of OPAP Group, which she joined in 2015. She holds a BA from the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, an LL.M. in International Economic Law from the University of Warwick, as well as a PhD in Law from the University of London, having been granted a doctoral scholarship. She has been a member of the Athens Bar Association since 2000, and is qualified to practise before the Supreme Court and the Council of State. Nancy boasts more than 20 years of professional experience in senior positions requiring increased level of responsibility, with companies listed in the ATHEX (OTE-COSMOTE-PIRAEUS BANK), having successfully handled top litigation, legal and regulatory cases. She has also served as a BoD member in ERGOSE S.A. and the National Regulatory Authority for Railways, as well as a Legal Counsel for the ‘Green Fund’ and the Minister of Communications of Bulgaria. She loves sports and travelling, and in her leisure time, she enjoys playing the violin together with her daughter.
Chief Retail Officer
Ilias Katsaros is the Chief Retail Officer of OPAP Group. He became a member of OPAP family in 2022, undertaking the development and operation of OPAP and PLAY Stores, as well as the partners’ network of Hellenic Lotteries S.A. Ilias is a leader, with a great empathy and focus on people. He has a professional experience of more than 20 years, in various sectors, in the USA, in Greece, and in Germany, and he has been employed in companies of international scope, such as Adidas, Diageo, Korres, and has been in charge of demanding projects of strategic and digital transformation, generating significant commercial results. He focuses on the promotion of changes, emphasizing on a better customer experience, on the achievement of results, and the maximization of revenues in retail networks, as well as on the development of highly performing groups. He graduated the National Technical University of Athens and acquired an MBA by the California State University of Los Angeles. Ilias loves sports, is a fan of kitesurfing and, in his free time, he enjoys traveling with his family.
Chief Sales & Marketing Play Stores, HL & Operations Officer
Matthaios Matthaiou joined OPAP in 2015, as Network Development Director. Since then, he has held various leadership roles in the company’s sales operations. In 2021, he was appointed Chief Operations Officer. He has worked in Greece and abroad, holding senior roles, locally and internationally, in Shell, the Boston Consulting Group and Hellenic Petroleum. His professional background covers sales, operations and strategy. During his career, he has led cross-functional teams, delivering impactful transformational projects. He is a graduate of the Athens University of Economics & Business and holds an MBA from the Warwick Business School (UK).
Chief Sales & Marketing OPAP Stores Officer
Fotis Zisimopoulos has been with OPAP since June 2014 and currently serves as Chief Product Officer. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Hellenic Lotteries and OPAP Cyprus. He began his career in 2001 and has held senior management positions in the fields of consumer and product marketing, in Greek and multinational companies, such as Sara Lee and Forthnet. Over the years, he has led the development and management of new products and services, as well as new markets, guided by consumer trends. He is a graduate of Marketing and Business Research from the Athens University of Economics and Business, and holds an MBA from the same university.
Chief People Officer
Achillia Condou joined Opap in May 2023 as Chief People Officer. She has a diverse professional background, in Finance and HR, in various sectors: financial services, consulting, pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods. Her career spans over 20 years, during which she held senior HR management roles in companies like Unilever, Sanofi and Minerva.
Achillia has proven ability to lead complex and global organizations, manage multiple stakeholders and partner with the business leaders. She has significant experience in driving cultural change, leading organizational transformation and building high performing teams, translating business strategies into workable solutions.
She graduated from the Athens University of Economics and Business and holds an MSc in International Banking and Finance from the University of Southampton (UK), with distinction. Since 2012 she has been a certified by the World at Work Society as a Global Remuneration Professional.
Chief Customer Officer