November 2004
Special Report on the Feaco - Sesma Conference Athens 2004
Interview:
Dimitris Bakolas: a European profile
European
Profiles is a Greek consultancy operating in the Balkans,
Central Europe, Eastern Europe and CSI countries. It is now entering
Turkey anf the Arab Countries...
Dimitris Bakolas: Head of European profiles
European Profiles is a top Management Consulting Company in Greece. May we know what your company really is and how did it start?
Dimitris Bakolas : European Profiles is established in 1991. It offers integrated services to organizations of the public and private sector, both at national and international level. The permanent staff of European Profiles is composed of 62 highly qualified engineers, economists, legal experts, human resources specialists, information technology and security experts, sociologists and senior managers who have been working in various fields, both in Europe and internationally. In addition, the company collaborates with more than 200 national and international experts in all relevant fields of management and organization. Since its establishment, European Profiles has successfully concluded over 150 projects in national and international level and has an active presence in 25 countries of the EU, Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the countries of the Russian Federation. The last five years the company has attained significant growth rates.
May we also know your turn over and its breakdown?
Dimitris Bakolas : The turnover for 2004 arise up to 8 million €. More over than 80% comes from abroad mainly from the E.U., but also from the World Bank. The rest of the 20% is implemented in the inland.
As we can see you are very present abroad. Do you operate from Athens or do you have local offices ?
Dimitris Bakolas : Currently, European Profiles has permanent local offices in Russia, Ukraine, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Romania while local offices and representantives relating to specific projects are established in almost the totality of Balkan countries and Central – Eastern European countries.
From your figures your foreign activity is strong. Are you relying on client funding abroad or mostly on Programmes funds ? And if so how is this funding evolution?
Dimitris Bakolas : 80% of the turn over has been generated by the implementation of Technical Assistance Programmes in third countries in the Central & Eastern European, N.I.S., Balkans, etc. The rest of the 20% is implemented in the inland within the implementation of programmes funded by private and public sources. These programmes are concerning (indicatively) strategic planning, ICT, reengineering & modernization of the Public Administration, employment promotion, studies development (business plans, market researches). The contribution of the Programmes Funds in the total turn over is varying steadily up to 60% over the last years as percentage of the total turn over. For example in 2001 the contribution of the Programmes Funds in the total turn over arise over to 64,1%, while in the 2003 arise up to 83%.
Most Greek Consultancies say that operating in the East and especially in Russia is not that easy. How is it that you are present there and became a leading greek consultancy in this area?
Dimitris Bakolas : East Europe and ex - Soviet Union is indeed a very specific area. The knowledge of the specifics of each country, the local language and people culture is very important for the business everywhere but for this area is a must. In our company we have a lot of people including myself, speaking Slavonic languages and having extensive experience in Eastern Europe. I think this is one of the main factors of our successful work, the second one is the fact, that we are going there not just to earn money, but wishing to contribute in the complex process of transition in those counties.
And what about your consultants profiles? Any relation with your company name?
Dimitris Bakolas : European Profiles has established a significant network of international senior and junior consultants. Some of them are ex-officers of International Organizations and Authorities as ONU, the European Commisssion or the International Bank. Other consultants have worked in the implementation of international projects all over the wolrd. Our experts come mainly from European Union countries or from the Balkan and Eastern European area, but we have also a network of collaborators coming from Asian countries.
Every pleasant meeting has to come to its end, so before living you we would be pleased to know for our readers how you see the future and how European Profiles is preparing to enter that future ?
Dimitris Bakolas : I would say that we are quite optimistic for the future: the contracts we already signed secure the continuation of our growth for the next couple of years, but we expect also a number of new developments. In the next couple of years we plan to erect our own 8 floor building that will provide a significantly better working environment for our staff. In the near future, we expect a further strengthening of our position in the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS countries, where our company plays an important role on supporting the efforts for reconstruction of the economies. Furthermore, our perspectives aim at widening our activities to a larger geographic area. In Turkey, we already have projects, and we are already approaching and will continue to broader our presence in the Arab countries.
Words collected by Bertrand Villeret
Chief Editor
ConsultingNewsLine
Athens, Astir Palace Vouliagmeni, 22 October 2004
Dimitris Bakolas: Head of European profiles
European Profiles is a top Management Consulting Company in Greece. May we know what your company really is and how did it start?
Dimitris Bakolas : European Profiles is established in 1991. It offers integrated services to organizations of the public and private sector, both at national and international level. The permanent staff of European Profiles is composed of 62 highly qualified engineers, economists, legal experts, human resources specialists, information technology and security experts, sociologists and senior managers who have been working in various fields, both in Europe and internationally. In addition, the company collaborates with more than 200 national and international experts in all relevant fields of management and organization. Since its establishment, European Profiles has successfully concluded over 150 projects in national and international level and has an active presence in 25 countries of the EU, Central and Eastern Europe, as well as in the countries of the Russian Federation. The last five years the company has attained significant growth rates.
May we also know your turn over and its breakdown?
Dimitris Bakolas : The turnover for 2004 arise up to 8 million €. More over than 80% comes from abroad mainly from the E.U., but also from the World Bank. The rest of the 20% is implemented in the inland.
As we can see you are very present abroad. Do you operate from Athens or do you have local offices ?
Dimitris Bakolas : Currently, European Profiles has permanent local offices in Russia, Ukraine, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia and Romania while local offices and representantives relating to specific projects are established in almost the totality of Balkan countries and Central – Eastern European countries.
From your figures your foreign activity is strong. Are you relying on client funding abroad or mostly on Programmes funds ? And if so how is this funding evolution?
Dimitris Bakolas : 80% of the turn over has been generated by the implementation of Technical Assistance Programmes in third countries in the Central & Eastern European, N.I.S., Balkans, etc. The rest of the 20% is implemented in the inland within the implementation of programmes funded by private and public sources. These programmes are concerning (indicatively) strategic planning, ICT, reengineering & modernization of the Public Administration, employment promotion, studies development (business plans, market researches). The contribution of the Programmes Funds in the total turn over is varying steadily up to 60% over the last years as percentage of the total turn over. For example in 2001 the contribution of the Programmes Funds in the total turn over arise over to 64,1%, while in the 2003 arise up to 83%.
Most Greek Consultancies say that operating in the East and especially in Russia is not that easy. How is it that you are present there and became a leading greek consultancy in this area?
Dimitris Bakolas : East Europe and ex - Soviet Union is indeed a very specific area. The knowledge of the specifics of each country, the local language and people culture is very important for the business everywhere but for this area is a must. In our company we have a lot of people including myself, speaking Slavonic languages and having extensive experience in Eastern Europe. I think this is one of the main factors of our successful work, the second one is the fact, that we are going there not just to earn money, but wishing to contribute in the complex process of transition in those counties.
And what about your consultants profiles? Any relation with your company name?
Dimitris Bakolas : European Profiles has established a significant network of international senior and junior consultants. Some of them are ex-officers of International Organizations and Authorities as ONU, the European Commisssion or the International Bank. Other consultants have worked in the implementation of international projects all over the wolrd. Our experts come mainly from European Union countries or from the Balkan and Eastern European area, but we have also a network of collaborators coming from Asian countries.
Every pleasant meeting has to come to its end, so before living you we would be pleased to know for our readers how you see the future and how European Profiles is preparing to enter that future ?
Dimitris Bakolas : I would say that we are quite optimistic for the future: the contracts we already signed secure the continuation of our growth for the next couple of years, but we expect also a number of new developments. In the next couple of years we plan to erect our own 8 floor building that will provide a significantly better working environment for our staff. In the near future, we expect a further strengthening of our position in the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS countries, where our company plays an important role on supporting the efforts for reconstruction of the economies. Furthermore, our perspectives aim at widening our activities to a larger geographic area. In Turkey, we already have projects, and we are already approaching and will continue to broader our presence in the Arab countries.
Words collected by Bertrand Villeret
Chief Editor
ConsultingNewsLine
Athens, Astir Palace Vouliagmeni, 22 October 2004
Dimiris Bakolas :
a European profile
a European profile
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