Board of Directors

Mr. George Koukisstarted his career at QANTAS in 1973, where he was heavily involved with the computerization of its Management Information Systems (MIS and Accounting). He then spent six years with Management Science America (MSA) in Australia, where he held various management positions, including as its Managing Director. In 1986, Mr. Koukis introduced ROSS SYSTEMS, A VAX specialist software company, to the Asian region based out of Hong Kong.

In 1993, Mr. Koukis founded and managed TEMENOS Group AG, taking the company public on the Zurich Stock Exchange in 2001. Mr. Koukis retired in July 2011, he is still a member of the Board of TEMENOS as a Non Executive Director.

Mr. Chris Li has over 20 years of experience in finance, mergers and acquisitions, and management. He joined Price Waterhouse Coopers in the UK and qualified as a Chartered Accountant, which gave him a strong financial and corporate governance foundation. Later, he held senior management positions at various Global Fortune 500 or equivalent companies in numerous countries.

His roles included CEO of Egypt, CFO of South Korea, and Head of Business Development of Americas, Middle East and Africa at Hutchison Whampoa ports division, CEO of Dongguan, China at Port of Singapore Authority, and Head of Infrastructure Investments at China Ping An Insurance. Mr. Li graduated from London Imperial College in the UK as an electrical and electronics engineer.

Mr. Julian Stourton has been the Chief Executive Officer of Koukis Holdings SA since 2010. From September 2001 to March 2009, Mr. Stourton served with Temenos SA, the world’s largest banking software company, in various roles, including COO, General Manager of Africa, and GM Northern Europe. From 1989 to 2001, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for Europe at System Software Associates Inc., the largest AS400 ERP company at the time. He sits on a number of boards relating to his position as CEO of Koukis Holdings. Mr. Stourton earned his qualifications at Ampleforth College in the United Kingdom in 1978.

Mr. Stourton is a general manager with a proven track record of success in the management of companies principally in the computer and software world, where he has 25 years of proven sales and management. Mr. Stourton’s immense experience and expertise have led to the growth of many of the companies in the Koukis Holdings portfolio. Mr. Stourton is of UK origin and has made Switzerland and the beautiful Alps his place of residence.

Mr. Chris Pavlou began his career at Barclays Bank in London in 1966, where he worked in London, the USA, Belgium, and Asia and reached the Position of Deputy Chief Manager of Treasury and Capital Markets. In 1986 he joined HSBC in Hong Kong as Chief Manager of Treasury and Capital Markets. After a very successful career as Treasurer, he retired in 1998 and returned to his native country, Cyprus.

Mr. Pavlou has held several positions, including Executive Director of Laiki Bank Cyprus, 2001-2004; Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit Committee of Temenos, 2001-2014; CEO and then Non-Executive Chairman of TFI markets, 2006-2011; Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit Committee of Prosafe, 2007-2014; and Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit Committee of the National Bank Of Greece—Cyprus, 2010-2012. He was also the Non-Executive Chairman of the Investment Bank of Greece, Athens, and also a Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit Committee of Asbis Co. 

Mr. Pavlou is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers and a Freeman of the City of London.

After completing a BA in Economics at the University of Geneva, Mr. Serge Pavoncello started his professional career at UBS as Portfolio Manager in 1987 and became responsible for the investment strategy and a member of the investment committee. He joined Credit Suisse in 1999 to head the HNWI department in Geneva. Based on his wide experience in finance, Mr. Pavoncello created Wedge Associates SA in 2004, a Wealth Management and Investment company with a direct financing and Private Equity department. As a former member of the Board of the Swiss Financial Analyst Association, Mr. Pavoncello is currently chairman of the Swiss Association of Asset Managers.