Michalis Zampelas

Michael Zampelas (born 1942)^[1] is a Cypriot businessman, politician and philanthropist.

Career

Zampelas was born in Palaichori. After studying accountancy in the United Kingdom, in 1970, he was one of the founders of accounting and consulting firm Coopers & Lybrand. It operated in Cyprus and Athens, thus openined new horizons for the development of the accounting profession in Cyprus and Greece. As a result of a merger in 1998 the firm was renamed PricewaterhouseCoopers. He served as an elected member of the board of the European Organisation of Coopers & Lybrand Europe (1991–1999). Michael Zampelas served the firm as its chairman and chief executive officer from its establishment in 1970 until 2001 and as a non- Executive chairman from 2002 until 2005. Today, PricewaterhouseCoopers in Cyprus employs around 1000 partners and staff. It is the leading professional services firm on the island, providing industry-focused assurance, tax, advisory services, global compliance for public and private clients.

Zampelas is the Honorary Consul General of Estonia in Cyprus, since 1997. He has contributed substantially to the development of the commercial and cultural relations between the two countries. In 2005 the President of Estonia awarded him the title of the Order of the National Coat of Arms.

Michael Zampelas, as an independent candidate, won the municipal elections and took office as the Mayor of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, on 1 January 2002. He served as Mayor until 31 December 2006. In 2007 he was honoured by the next Mayor and the Municipal Council for his services as Mayor and he was awarded the honorary medal of the city of Nicosia.

Parallel with his professional activities, Michael Zampelas has been developing a very intense activity for the promotion of Cyprus internationally focusing on the financial rebuild and development of the country. It is widely accepted that he puts forward suggestions to the Cyprus Government which bring about very positive financial results for Cyprus.

Further more, he is actively promoting Cyprus through the extensive network of PricewaterhouseCoopers worldwide and through his connections with large banking and financial organisations, law firms and other offices abroad by delivering presentations at seminars and meetings in various countries and by giving interviews in the international media. A count of around 160 such presentations all over the world was recorded in a period of 20 years.

He was one of the initiators who contributed greatly to the enhancement of the image of the accounting profession in Cyprus which is now considered by international experts as equal to that of UK, USA and other developed countries. In 2007 he was honoured by the board of The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus for his visionary services to the accounting and auditing profession in Cyprus and in 2010 he was awarded by the same Institute the first prize for his contribution in the development of the accounting and auditing profession and the economy of Cyprus.

His social contribution to the educational, cultural, community and business levels has been continuous. He was honoured and decorated by a number of social and business institutions. He served as President or member of the board of many social institutions and business organisations. A number of positions in such institutions and organisations are shown below:

Social institutions

• Current President of the Association of the Friends Christou Steliou Ioannou Foundation – for children with special needs
• President of the Cyprus Foundation for Muscular Dystrophy Research – People with muscular dystrophy
• President of the Institute of Neurology and Genetics – Bi-communal research and medical centre
• Member of the board of the Lions Care for Youth Foundation-helping youth in need
• Member of the board of Old Peoples Home – Archangelos Michael
• Member of the board of Boy Scouts Organisation in Cyprus
• President of Achilleas Kaimakliou Athletic Organisation

Business organisations

• President of the Cyprus Russian Business Association
• Member of the board of the Nicosia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Member of board of The Cyprus Employers Organisation
• President of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus
• President of the Cyprus Port Authority
• President of the Cyprus Forest Industries
• President of the Union of Municipalities in Cyprus
• President of the Nicosia Sewerage Board
• President of the Kofinou Slaughter House
• Current Vice-Chairman of the Eurobank EFG Cyprus Ltd and the Chairman of its Audit Committee.
• Current Member of the board of directors of Globaltans Investment Plc, a company quoted in the London Stock Exchange and the Chairman of its Audit Committee.

He also served as Loan Commissioner of the Government of Cyprus and as a member of a number of Commissions of Enquiry.

Personal life

He is married to Loukia, and they have three daughters and eight grandchildren. Loukia Zampelas is also very actively involved in the community and with public issues. Both Michael and Loukia Zampelas are great lovers and collectors of art and have played a very important role in promoting Cypriot Art. In their home at Kaimakli they have created an art gallery which is opened, at request, for charitable, educational and private viewing purposes. They are also great lovers of organic agriculture including the growing of organic fruits and vegetables and producers of organic poultry and eggs.

Both Michael and Loukia are in the process of building a cultural centre at Kaimakli for permanently exhibiting and promoting art. Through the cultural centre, there will also be dealings in art mainly for purposes of encouraging people to start loving and collecting art. The opening and inauguration of an art museum under the name "Loukia and Michael Zampelas Art Museum" is expected to take place in April 2012.

References

1. "Elections – Nicosia candidates hopeful for success". Cyprus News Agency. Retrieved 26 September 2013.

External links

• Loukia & Michael Art Museum (English)