The People

George Xydas, CFA is a founding Partner and Managing Director of XS Capital. Since forming the Company, Mr. Xydas focused on South East Europe where he developed extensive knowledge of the individual markets. Mr. Xydas specializes in sourcing, negotiating and closing of merger and acquisition transactions in South East Europe and is also involved in structuring financing transactions for large real estate development projects; assisting clients obtain tailor made loans from regional commercial banks. Mr. Xydas is currently advisor to two public and one private real estate companies and is a member of the board of directors of a publicly listed real estate developer. Prior to forming XS Capital, he worked for eight years at Severis & Athienitis Financial Services where he was responsible for foreign institutional investors, advising companies such as Salomon Brothers, Blakeney Management and AIG. Mr. Xydas was a founding member and is currently member of the board of the CFA Society of Cyprus. He holds a BA in Accounting & Finance from South Bank University, an MSc in Finance and Risk Management from Golden Gate University, and is a CFA charterholder.

(Contact George Xydas: george.xydas@xscapital.com.cy)

Christos Spanos, CFA is a founding Partner and Managing Director of XS Capital. Prior to that, Mr. Spanos was employed as a financial analyst and later portfolio manager at Severis and Athienitis Financial Services Ltd from 1997 to 2001. Following that, Mr. Spanos was responsible for the setup and management of the Asset Management and Fixed Income division of Egnatia Financial Services (Cyprus) Ltd., a member of the Egnatia Bank group. Mr. Spanos has extensive experience in asset management having managed funds for high net worth individuals, pension funds and closed end investment funds. He holds a BSc in Physics from Birmingham University, an MSc in Medical Radiation Physics from Brunel University and an MA in Business Administration from the Cyprus International Institute of Management. Mr. Spanos is currently a candidate for Level III of the CFA Program. 

(Contact Christos Spanos: christos.spanos@xscapital.com.cy)

Charalambos Psimolophitis, CFA joined the company in 2005 as a Partner and Managing Director. Prior to that he worked for Mega Equity Securities as Head of Research and as a Portfolio Manager from 2000 to 2004. Prior to that Mr. Psimolophitis was a project manager for a number of turn-key projects related to the manufacturing sector including the development of a production plant of sporting ammunition in Romania. Mr. Psimolophitis has also worked for a number of years as a Financial Controller and as an operation manager in a Romanian offshore banking unit. He is a member of the board and secretary of the CFA Society of Cyprus.  He holds a BSc in Business and Management from King’s College of the University of London and is a CFA charterholder. He also holds a Professional Competence Certificate from the Ministry of Finance in Cyprus for a) Supervisor of customer portfolio management and b) Provision of Investment advice.

(Contact Charalambos Psimolophitis: charalambos.psimolophitis@xscapital.com.cy)

Demetris Nicolaou, CFA is a  non executive member of the board. Demetris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Finance from the American University in Washington, DC.  He also holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from the same university.  From 1994 to 2000 he worked at Emerging Markets Management in Arlington, Virginia, first as an Investment Analyst and later as a Co-Portfolio Manager.  In 1995 he passed the Registered Investment Advisor Exams (Series 65) in the USA.  He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation since 1999.  From 2000 to 2004 he worked at Alpha Bank Ltd as Head of Asset Management and Private Banking.  After leaving Alpha Bank in 2005, he joined his family business, D. Nicolaou & Sons Ltd, assuming the position of Financial Director as well as serving on the Board of Directors.  He also holds a Professional Competence Certificate from the Ministry of Finance in Cyprus for a) Supervisor of dealings in financial instruments for own account, and b) Supervisor of customer portfolio management.

Loucas Marangos, MBA is a non- executive member of the board. Mr. Marangos Studied Accounting and Finance on a British Council Scholarship at the London School of Economics and holds an MBA from Imperial College London. Mr. Marangos specialises in risk appraisal and fixed income management in Eastern Europe. He is currently an Associate Director for Risk Management at TFI Public Company Ltd. As a part of his role at TFI, Mr. Marangos is responsible for the formulation and implementation of the company's risk strategy. He is responsible for the allocation of credit and market risk limits; through the appraisal of emerging market sovereign and corporate credit risk, the use of Value at Risk and Volatility analysis. Mr. Marangos has extensive experience in and knowledge of the Eastern European Economies.

Nicos Papandreou, MSc is a non executive member of the board. Mr. Papandreou undertook a credit training module at London Business School. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management from C.I.T.E. (Associates) Ltd and a B.Eng honours degree in Civil Engineering from the Albany College. He is currently the Assistant to the CEO at Cyprus Pharmaceutical Organisation Ltd (CPO). Part of his role in CPO is the implementation of new Management information system. Prior to his current position, Mr. Papandreou worked as Deputy Portfolio Manager (Agribusiness) at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development where he managed active portfolios from separate projects including debt, equity and mezzanine instruments. He also worked as an assistant Engineer on Cross Rail Project Team at Sir William Halcrow & Partners Ltd and assisted Marine Division HQ in preparing tender proposals for various projects at Amec Civil Engineering Ltd.