AIMS International Elects Leader of EMEA
October 5, 2021 – Executive search consortium AIMS International has elected Dimitris Kleftakis from AIMS International Hellas as executive vice president EMEA. He takes over from Peter Barkhurst, managing partner AIMS International Germany and global VP of AIMS International, who has held the position since 2020.
“It is with joy that I congratulate Dimitris on being chosen for his new role as the executive VP EMEA,” said Bernardo Entschev, president AIMS International. “Dimitris has already been making excellent contributions in his current role as the EMEA VP but now in the EVP position he can expand his support to all our partners in Europe enhancing our strategy in the EMEA region and globally.”
Mr. Kleftakis is based in Athens, Greece and comes from the management consulting industry where he held various managerial roles and was engaged in projects in the fields of corporate and project finance, debt restructuring, corporate re-organization and business development. He has worked in several business sectors and gained in-depth knowledge of the business models and the key value drivers in these sectors.
Mr. Kleftakis joined AIMS International Hellas in 2016 as a partner. In 2018, he was elected as a member of the AIMS International executive board. Since his appointment, he has been representing the region of Eastern Europe and Eurasia and serves as the finance manager of the global organization. Mr. Kleftakis is also leading the financial and professional services global practice and is a member of the industrial global practice.
“It is really inspiring and I am honored to be entrusted by our valuable partners in the EMEA region to be their executive VP,” said Mr. Kleftakis. “I feel thankful and privileged to be part of the executive board of AIMS International, a truly global organization offering top class executive search and talent management services in more than 52 countries around the world. Together with my fellow EMEA board members, we will work closely with our offices across the region to further promote our organization and offer real value to our clients and partners”.
Glowing Global Organization
With over 80 offices worldwide, AIMS International provides clients with customized, global executive search and talent management services in 50 countries. It has active global practice groups working in the automotive, financial and professional services, FMCG and luxury goods, industrial, IT and telecoms, and life sciences industries, as well as in talent management and board advisory services.
AIMS has experienced a wave of growth over the past year. Earlier in 2021, it expanded its reach in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region with the opening of a new office in Dubai. Kyriakos Kofinas has been hired as managing partner to heading the office which serves the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Jordan.
“We are glad to announce the opening of our Gulf office based in Dubai, earlier in 2020, and welcome Kyriakos Kofinas, who brings solid experience and expertise in leadership across many industries, as our managing partner,” said Mr. Entschev. “Our focus is on consistently advising our clients in building and strengthening their organizations, with impactful and lasting leadership. We have started well with the first projects in 2020, leveraging Aims International’s footprint to attract projects and select top executives and talents.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
