To Disrupt or Be Disrupted

During the Eurozone crisis, while many businesses retreated, Alexis Pantazis saw an opportunity to disrupt an outdated industry. His success, he says, comes from “persistence” — falling down and not just getting back up, but standing with a smile. 

As co-founder and Executive Director of Hellas Direct, Alexis Pantazis, along with Emilios Markou, sought to transform the Greek insurance market. Founded in 2012 amid economic turmoil, Hellas Direct uses a digital-first approach to offer fast, transparent, and flexible insurance for cars, motorcycles, and homes. Their innovative approach has made insurance more accessible and affordable, earning Hellas Direct over 900,000 clients across multiple countries. 

With Alexis’s solutions and leadership, Hellas Direct has secured a spot for the fourth time in a row in the Financial Times FT 1000 list of the 1,000 fastest growing companies in Europe for 2023, which highlights businesses that manage to rise despite global disruptions.

Before co-founding Hellas Direct in 2011, Alexis was an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, where he led principal investments and strategic initiatives in European investment management. His experience also includes consulting at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and roles at Miramax Films and the European Commission’s Competition Directorate General, giving him a broad perspective across private and public sectors.

Honored with the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Cyprus 2022 award, Alexis is recognized for his significant impact on Hellas Direct and the broader fintech ecosystem and continues to revolutionize the insurance landscape.