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Finance Summit
The 4th ICPAC Mediterranean
OUR SPEAKERS
Andrew Doukanaris
Chief Executive Officer at Flotta Consulting Ltd
Andrew has been a driving force in the digital payments and FinTech transformation for over three decades. Throughout his global career, he has held senior and executive roles in Singapore, San Francisco, New York, and London.
At Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex, Andrew established and led the global marketing and sales, payments and retailing division across three brands. At Visa, he served as the European and CEMEA head of Merchant Acceptance, Acquiring Services, and Commercial Cards, overseeing operations in more than 120 markets. As Senior Vice President at JCB Cards Europe, he spearheaded the transformation of its acquiring, sales, and marketing divisions. Additionally, he worked as a consultant for Mastercard in Saudi Arabia.
Andrew founded Flotta Consulting Ltd to provide tailored consulting services to start-ups, scale-ups, and established players within the payments ecosystem. He has been appointed to various leadership roles, including Chair, Director, and CEO of Pomelo Pay, Intellias, and as an advisor and CEO for start-ups focused on open banking and QR code payments.
A sought-after commentator and podcaster, Andrew also serves as a FinTech mentor and advisor at Level39, an ambassador and moderator at the UK Payments Association, and a board advisor, event chairman, and moderator at QUBE Events.
Stephanos Papadopoulos
Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Spatzia.eu - Member of the ICPAC CFO Society Management Team
Stephanos is an International Trusted Advisor, Accredited Coach and Consultant to Founders Entrepreneurs, Business Owners and C-Level Executives. He is also a Board Member, Public Speaker and Podcast Creator & Host. He has first-hand experience in C-Level roles in countries across the globe in high pressure, fast paced, international board rooms and can relate to the opportunities and threats that these environments create for the leaders involved.
Stephanos creates space for his clients, which allows them to fine-tune and increase their creativity, focus and resolve, for what matters to them most. His work with his clients enables their growth and supports them in making bigger, better and more confident decisions on a professional and personal basis.
He has worked in C Suite, Advisory Board and Board of Directors Level positions in strategy, finance and operations, as well as a consultant and coach in numerous industries (financial services, FMCG, retail trade, manufacturing, high tech, education, mining, construction, heavy machinery trading, automobile trade) on an international basis, in companies from start up to mature phase, backed primarily by Family Office, Private Equity and VC funding.
Christodoulos Patsalides
Governor at Central Bank of Cyprus, Member of the Governing Council of the ECB
Christodoulos Patsalides is a holder of a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics.
He worked at the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) and then at Bank of Cyprus, where he reached the position of First Deputy CEO. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Association of Cyprus Banks and of Artemis Credit Bureau.
In October 2020 he exited Bank of Cyprus and provided advisory services. In March 2023 he was appointed as Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs.
Since 11 April 2024, he is the CBC Governor and a member of the Governing Council of the ECB.
Pavlos Kontides
Olympic Athlete and Sports Ambassador
Pavlos Kontides is the only Cypriot Olympic medalist winning a Silver Sailing (Laser Class) medal at both the recent Paris 2024 & London 2012 Olympic Games. Kontides is a back-to-back World Champion in both the Men's category (2017, 2018) and the Youth category (2007, 2008), as well as a two-time European Champion (2018, 2022). In 2018, he was named the Rolex World Sailor of the Year. He has won over ten medals in World Cups and World and European Championships. He is considered one of the best sailors of his generation worldwide, and he uses his experiences and successes to inspire the new generation of Cyprus and to help young athletes his our country.
Andreia Stanciu
Head of ACCA - Southern Europe at The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Andreia is heading the Southern European office of the largest and fastest growing international business and accountancy association, ACCA. She established the regional office in March 2006. Together with a team of five people she is now responsible for ACCA’s activities in Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, FYR Macedonia, Malta, Moldova and Romania. Her previous position was with the Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania, as Manager of their International Relations Department. She has eleven years of academic accounting training, and more than to 25 years work experience with professional accountancy bodies at national, regional and international level. She holds a PhD in accounting and an MSC in Marketing.
Peter McKenzie
General Manager at Anticipa Real Estate
Peter McKenzie is a speaker, executive coach and C-Suite leader whose mission is to help people achieve their full potential by making the workplace a safe place to learn, grow and enjoy. For over 25 years he has worked as a C-Suite leader in the finance, banking and real estate industries across Europe. He is currently Chief Financial Officer of Anticipa Real Estate, which is owned by Blackstone, one of the world’s largest investment funds with $545 billion under management. Meanwhile his profile as an international keynote speaker has seen him inspire, educate and entertain audiences around the world on in-demand topics such as Authentic Leadership, the Real Secrets of Customer Satisfaction, and the Future of Finance In A World Of Artificial Intelligence. He is a public speaking coach at Spain's prestigious IESE business school and currently lives in Barcelona with his two teenage children and wife.
Stavros Kattamis
Chairman of the CFO Committee of the Institute of Certified Public
Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC)
Stavros Kattamis is a business professional with 40 years of experience at PwC. Stavros led the Finance Function for almost 30 years and the Operations function for 5 years, contributing significantly to its digital transformation.
During his career, he has been leading various projects including amongst others, Mergers and Acquisitions, major ERP implementations and Digital Transformation projects. He believes that a modern CFO must take full advantage of the technology and transform the operating model of the finance function starting from the data collection process to the issue and distribution of information to the stakeholders. He is a fellow member of the ACCA and member of the ICPAC since 1995. He is currently the Chairman of the CFO committee of ICPAC and sits on various boards as non-executive.
Nicos Chimarides
President of the Council of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC)
Nicos is the President of the Council of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus
(ICPAC). He has been a member of the ICPAC Council for more than 10 years and has served in
the Taxation Committee, Education Committee and other committees of the Institute.
He is a partner in PwC Cyprus, a member of the firm’s Management Board and Tax & Legal
Leader. His specialisation is in international tax and has over 25 years of experience in advising
large MNCs on international tax matters.
Nicos is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a
Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Computer Science from Queen Mary College, University of
London.
Marianna Polykrati
Group Treasurer of AVRAMAR Group
Marianna Polykrati, recently appointed as the Group Treasurer of AVRAMAR Group, one of the largest aquaculture groups in Europe, is a Finance leader, with extensive expertise in Treasury, Corporate Finance, and Banking. During her career, she has played a key role in the execution of complex M&A and funding transactions as well as in the financial crisis management. Her professional experience includes 16 years in Corporate Treasury as a Group Treasurer in the largest Greek market FMCG Groups of AVRAMAR, Chipita and Vivartia and 8 years in the financial services sector Emporiki Bank in Venture Capital and Leasing, thus gaining insights from both the Corporate and the Financial sector.
She is a member of the Boardroom, a Think Tank dedicated to bridging the gender gap in the boardrooms, and a member of the Hellenic Association of Treasurers, devoted to creating a strong network and know-how exchange among Greek treasury professionals. Utilizing the wealth of corporate treasury and transaction experience, Marianna’s vision is to contribute to the future development of the Treasury profession and enhance the role of the Treasurer to advance in becoming a critical business partner, leading the transformation of the role both in sustainability and as a technology enabler, supporting the adoption of technology by the local businesses and finance community with a strong focus on FinTech, AI, and Blockchain.
Michele Hili
Finance Solutions Team Lead at Scope Solutions
Michele Hili is Team Lead within the Finance Solutions team at Scope Solutions, where he combines his passion for finance and technology to transform the way accountants view cloud accounting. An ACCA-qualified accountant, Michele began his career at a Big Four firm before choosing a different path - one focused on helping accountants rediscover the value and enjoyment in their work. At Scope, he leads efforts to promote innovative cloud technologies that position bookkeeping not just as a compliance necessity, but as a crucial tool for smarter, everyday decision-making. When he's not driving software implementations or exploring new tools, you’ll likely find Michele on the tennis court, or cheering on Juventus and Ferrari from his sofa - victories more certain in one arena than the other.
Theo Skagias
CEO at TH.C.SKAGIAS S.A.
Theo Skagias pursued his academic studies in the UK, earning a BA in Business Economics from Swansea University, followed by an MSc in Management with a focus on Marketing.
After completing his education, he remained in the UK, gaining valuable experience as an events and marketing coordinator.
Upon returning to Greece, Theo took on key roles within SKAG, initially leading the exports department before advancing to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Procurement Director and also as an integral part of the company’s leadership as a member of the board of directors.
In addition to his work at SKAG, Theo serves as Vice President of the board of S.E.V.A. and is a member of the Deontology Committee at ELLA-DIKA MAS (Essentially Greek). He has also previously been a member of the board of directors at the Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce. His professional achievements have been recognized, as he is listed on the prestigious CFO 100 Powerlist, published by Boussias Communications.
Panos Theodorou
Director | Assurance | Sustainability & Emerging Assurance at Deloitte
Panos has over 16 years of advisory, assurance and audit experience in Deloitte’s Audit & Assurance practice in London, New York and Nicosia. He currently leads Deloitte’s Sustainability and Emerging Assurance offering in Cyprus and has supported numerous organisations in Cyprus and the Middle East on ESG and Sustainability as well as other regulatory change related matters.
Panos holds a BSc in Mathematics with Statistics and an MSc in Mathematics and Finance, both from Imperial College London. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and is currently the president of ICPAC’s ESG & Sustainability committee.
Dr. Christina Koni
Dietitian, Well-being Consultant
Dr. Christina Koni is a respected Dietitian and Well-being Consultant with a dynamic portfolio spanning academic teaching, corporate training, and public health communication. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow, where her research on environmental and genetic factors in childhood obesity has been presented at international conferences. She is also a graduate of Louisiana Tech University (USA) and has lectured in Dietetics and Nursing at the University of Nicosia and the European University of Cyprus for several years.
Christina is an Expert Trainer at the European Institute of Management and Finance (EIMF), in the area of corporate wellbeing. In parallel, she delivers science-based education on nutrition and wellness to audiences of all ages, in both public and professional contexts. She is also a regular television contributor, offering expert insights on healthy living.
In parallel with her private practice, she sustains strong collaborations with local businesses to support initiatives that promote healthier eating habits and long-term lifestyle change. Her passion lies in creating wellness programs that enhance employee well-being, improve productivity, and build sustainable performance cultures within organisations.
Maria Georgiou
President of the Board of Directors at Cyprus Human Resource Management Association
Maria is heading PwC’s Academy as well as leading Learning and Development for PwC Cyprus, with responsibility for the learning strategy, implementation of learning and upskilling programs, introduction of blended learning and use of technology enabled learning platforms, which all support the achievement of business strategy and shaping the people experience and engagement for the organisation and its clients.
She is also part of the PwC People and Organisation Consulting team with significant expertise in the areas of Leadership Development, Management Development, People Upskilling, Learning Strategy, E-learn solutions, Culture Change and Top Team Effectiveness Interventions. With over 27 years of experience, Maria has worked with clients in diverse industries including public sector, retail, financial services, hospitality and leisure and technology and in many different countries including Greece, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Netherlands, Japan. She is also an EMCC Accredited Coach and qualified practitioner of several psychometric tools.
Professor James Ker-Lindsay
Academic and Analyst
James Ker-Lindsay is an academic, analyst, and content creator. A specialist on conflict, peace, and security, he has published 15 books, including “The Cyprus Problem: What Everyone Needs to Know” (Oxford University Press). After starting his career at the Royal United Services Institute, the world’s oldest security think tank, he was a senior research fellow and visiting professor at the London School of Economics (2008-2024). He has also served as an advisor to many governments and international organisations, including the Foreign Office and the United Nations. Now based in Cyprus, he primarily focuses on explaining international relations via his YouTube Channel @ProfJamesKerLindsay. He holds a BSc(econ) from London University and an MA and PhD from the University of Kent, where he remains a visiting professor.
Nicos Paneras
Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at InterMaritime Shipmanagement
Nicos Paneras is the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of InterMaritime Shipmanagement, where he leads the development and execution of strategic initiatives for the InterMaritime Group – a company established in 2024 through the merger of Intership Navigation and Interorient Shipmanagement.
He is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC). He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Shipping and Finance.
Nicos began his career in audit and accounting before advancing to senior financial roles within the shipping industry. From 2015-2024, he served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Intership Navigation, which was part of the Hartmann Group at the time. Following Intership’s separation from the Hartmann Group and the creation of InterMaritime, he assumed his current role as CSO of InterMaritime Shipmanagement.
Oleg Rogalev
Chief Financial Officer at TheSoul Publishing
Oleg Rogalev is the Chief Financial Officer at TheSoul Publishing, where he leads the Group’s Finance, Legal, and Procurement functions and co-leads initiatives in data governance and business intelligence. With a strong focus on digital transformation and data-driven decision-making, Oleg plays a key role in integrating advanced technologies, including AI, into financial operations. Before joining TheSoul Publishing, he served as CFO for Michelin across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, overseeing all financial aspects of the company’s regional operations. His earlier experience includes senior finance roles at global companies such as Thomson Reuters, Orica, and Schlumberger, spanning Europe and the United States. Oleg holds an MBA from INSEAD, a Strategic Finance Leadership Certificate from Stanford University, and professional qualifications as both ACCA (UK) and CPA (US).
Marios Demetriades
Executive Finance Director at Mitsides Public Company Ltd - Member of ICPAC Council
Marios Ph. Demetriades is the Executive Director and Group Chief Financial Officer of
Mitsides Public Company Ltd., a leading Cyprus food production and distribution company.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), and holds an M.Sc. in Strategic Marketing Management.
Marios has over 30 years of experience in corporate finance, governance, strategic planning, and digital transformation, and is an elected Board Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC).
At Mitsides, he leads the Group’s finance, IT, logistics, and administration functions and
serves on the Boards of various companies.
He is passionate about developing financial leadership and driving sustainable business
growth.
Mikaël Zakarian
CFO EMEA at Adobe
Mikaël Zakarian, CFO EMEA joined Adobe in November 2022 and his in charge of the growth strategy and execution for the entire region. He previously served at Microsoft for 20 years in multiple locations (Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, Nordics). His last position was CFO for Microsoft Denmark in charge of Data Center deployment and R&D around Quantum computing. He offers a wide array of experiences in high intensity environment from digital transformation to modern finance using AI. He is currently based in Paris.
Demos Antoniou
President at Hug With Love Charity Association
Demos Antoniou is a dedicated IT professional and social advocate with over 15 years of experience in infrastructure management, SAP system installations, and network security. As the Founder of Guard IT Security Solutions, he delivers advanced cloud computing and AI-driven monitoring tools to enhance business efficiency and security. His technical expertise spans Windows and Linux systems, firewalls, encryption, and quality assurance testing. Demos has held key positions in companies like Procons-4IT and Databest, offering strategic IT consulting and leading client services. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is the President of Hug With Love, a charity organisation focused on supporting families in need, where he drives impactful social initiatives and fundraising efforts. Demos holds degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of Nicosia in Computer Science. A fluent English and native Greek speaker, he is known for his resilience, team spirit, and commitment to continuous learning and community support.
Aristodemos Yiannakas
President of the Cyprus Institute of Internal Auditors
Aristodemos is the President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Institute of Internal
Auditors. He has over 25 years of internal audit, fraud investigation, and Anti-Money
Laundering, corporate governance, and consulting experience. He holds a BA (Hons) in
Economics, a Master of Business Administration, an MSc in Internal Auditing, and
Management and a PhD in Internal Auditing from City University in London. He is also a
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).
He is a Partner in Ernst & Young Cyprus Limited, leading the Forensics & Integrity Service Line. During his professional career, he has led numerous internal audit engagements in the retail, transportation, insurance, distribution, F&B, telecommunications and financial services sectors. He has written a number of articles in journals, periodicals and the local press. He has also attended, as a guest speaker, various seminars organised by different professional bodies.
Angelina Markari
Finance Director at Sodexo Cyprus
Angelina is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA) and holds a BSc (Hons). She has been serving as the Finance Director of Sodexo and a key member of the management team in Cyprus and Falklands for over 10 years, with extensive experience in financial and commercial contract management. Sodexo, the global leader in sustainable food and valued experiences and one of the biggest employers internationally, provides food and facilities management services across over 45 countries. In Cyprus, Sodexo provides facilities management services including catering, cleaning, retail and waste management within the British Sovereign Base Areas. Angelina started her career and qualified with KPMG London in 2001. She later joined KPMG Cyprus, where she gained managerial exposure in auditing and advisory matters. She held Finance Manager roles in Amdocs and IKOS CIF before joining Sodexo in 2010. Angelina has been an executive committee member of the board of CIBA (Cyprus International Businesses Association) since 2007.
Michael Skender
CFO at CYTA
Michael Skender is the Chief Financial Officer of CYTA, leading the financial strategy of Cyprus’s flagship telecom provider through a period of accelerated digital transformation. With over two decades of executive experience in technology-driven organisations—including JCC Payment Systems, 3CX Group, MTN Cyprus, and CTC—Michael has a proven track record in aligning finance with innovation, growth, and operational excellence.
He specialises in telecoms, fintech, strategic planning, digital enablement, and the integration of emerging technologies into financial ecosystems. A forward-thinking leader, he empowers individuals to embrace AI, automation, and data intelligence for smarter decision-making. Michael is an ACCA-certified professional with a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from Southbank University, London.
Antonis Diolas
Head of Audit and Assurance – Policy & Insights at ACCA
Antonis is the Head of Audit and Assurance at ACCA’s Policy & Insights team. He leads ACCA’s global policy on audit and assurance matters, contributing to Policy & Insights publications and responses to consultations. Antonis engages at the local and international level with key organisations – including the UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) and Accountancy Europe.
Antonis previously served as a technical advisor of the IAASB and the IFAC SMP Advisory Group and is a member of the Audit and Assurance Policy Group at Accountancy Europe. Before joining ACCA, Antonis worked as an auditor for EY in London and the Channel Islands, specialising in financial services. He also worked for KPMG in Cyprus.
Antonis holds an LLB (Hons) Law degree from the University of Essex, the CFA Certificate in ESG investing and is a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He is also a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus.
Nassos Paltayian
Director - Head of Compliance at Abacus Limited
Nassos Paltayian is a distinguished Anti-Financial crime compliance professional, specialising in Anti-fraud, Anti-money laundering (AML), Counter-terrorist financing (CTF) and sanctions. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant with ICAEW and has a robust background in financial services auditing, including controls testing. Nassos is a Certified Risk Management Specialist on Russian Sanctions and holds leadership roles in the Association of Certified Anti-Moneylaundering Specialists (ACAMS) Cyprus Chapter and ICPAC’s Committees in the past. He also headed significant projects, including the Designated Non-Financial Business and Professions module of the Cypriot National Risk Assessment. Nassos is recognised for his contributions to various prestigious engagements and initiatives in the field of compliance and risk management. He is an advocate of best practices and public awareness for Anti-Financial crime.
Adonis Sotiriou
Group CFO at Lanitis E. C. Holdings Ltd
Adonis Sotiriou is the Chief Financial Officer of Lanitis Group, and he is serving on the Board of Directors of several companies in the Group. He has graduated from the University of Manchester with a BA in Accounting & Finance, and he is a member of ICAEW. Adonis started his career with KPMG in Cyprus where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. His work experience covers a wide range of industries including banking, manufacturing, property development, and leisure and entertainment. In the past, he has held the positions of Credit Officer in Hellenic Bank, CFO at PepsiCo (Cyprus) International and CFO at Cybarco Development Ltd.
Alena Stankevich
Finance Partner at Wargaming
Alena is a senior finance leader with nearly 20 years of experience in strategic financial management, business partnering and operational excellence across multinational Companies.
In her current role at Wargaming, Alena partners with the Chief Product Officer in shaping and executing the financial strategy for the company’s full product portfolio — including globally recognized titles such as World of Tanks, World of Warships and WOT Blitz. Earlier in her career, following her tenure at Deloitte, Alena worked at EPAM Systems, where she played a key role in supporting the company’s IPO process and
contributed strategically to reshaping financial reporting and operational processes during a period of rapid global growth. Alena holds a professional qualification from ACCA and a degree in International Economic Relations. Her motto is: “Behind every number, there is a story to tell.”
Michael Ioannides
Cyprus Country Manager at Visa
Michael Ioannides, is the Visa Europe Country Manager of Cyprus. Michael is a notable professional with more than 20 years of experience in Payments and in executive management, having served at senior Executive roles. He has served as Chairman and previously as CEO of JCC and Chairman of the Visa Cyprus Executive Committee.
He commenced his career with Deloitte, focusing on Financial services and advisory followed by the CFO position with JCC. Michael holds a BA in business administration with distinction, he is a qualified accountant, member of ICPAC and graduated with distinction from University of
Wales MBA’s program.
Eleni Ashioti
Head of Technical and Professional Matters at the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC)
The Technical and Professional Matters Department continued to provide consistent support to ICPAC members throughout 2024. Staff members actively represented ICPAC throughout the year on several international technical platforms, including Accountancy Europe Policy Groups, IFAC and Edinburgh Group.
One of the department's key achievements this year was the successful finalisation of the project to develop a simplified financial reporting framework for small-sized entities, known aFRS for SEs. This framework aims to ease the administrative burden for small businesses, offering an alternative to IFRS Accounting Standards compliance. Additionally, in early 2024, ICPAC published a consultation paper to gather feedback from members on this proposal, incorporating all applicable views received into the final framework. In February 2025, the completed framework was submitted to the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry.
Another notable accomplishment was the organisation of the ICPAC-ACCA 2024 Sustainability Conference on June 2024. This event featured distinguished speakers who provided useful insights on reporting, assurance, ethics and governance of the sustainability information.
The department also played an important role in the consultation for transposing the Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD’), as regards corporate sustainability reporting, submitting valuable comments and recommendations that reflect its ongoing commitment to advancing the profession.
The department also participated in ICPAC’s roadshows, presenting the FRS for SEs, the CSRD and reminding members of the option for a review of the financial statements in lieu of an audit as per the Companies law, Cap. 113.
Saulius Žlabys
VP Payments and Country Manager Lithuania at Payhawk
Saulius is an experienced leader in banking, payments, and financial services, currently serving as VP Payments and CEO of Payhawk Lithuania.
With a strong background in regulatory compliance and operations, he drives the company's growth and ensures alignment with local and international standards. Saulius is passionate about innovation in the payments industry and fostering sustainable financial solutions.
George Flouros
General Manager of Vpayments - a Member of GAP Vassilopoulos Group
GAP Vassilopoulos Group is one of the largest and most diversified Groups in Cyprus offering Financial Services, Insurance, logistics, and a number of other services in 8 countries - Cyprus, Israel, Greece, Germany Belgium, Netherlands, UK and Ireland.
Vpayments is a strategic Business Partner of Worldline for Cyprus and the European Union. With over 500,000 merchants in their portfolio Worldline is the largest processor of financial card-acquiring transactions in Europe and one of the largest globally.
Prior to his current role George served for 29 years at NCR Corporation in Cyprus and the US. From 2011 until 2017 he was the Regional VP for NCR’s Financial Services Division for Middle East Africa and subsequently India/ Middle East Africa.