Speakers

Kostas Loukas is the Public Sector Lead for Central and Eastern Europe, effective July 1, 2016. Kostas is leading the CEE Public Sector team, aiming for delivering the fastest possible transformation and the fastest possible growth. Public Sector customers in CEE are in the midst of a substantial transformation. Government leaders, at different paces, recognize that the role of technology is shifting from driving efficiency to enabling transformation, citizen participation, and engagement. In this context the PS team has the unique opportunity to influence every one of the 425 million citizens and of the 33 governments of the region, to change their world with technology. Microsoft is fitter than ever to support governments with their digital agenda and ultimately with their digital transformation—creating the possibility of a more level playing field for every citizen and igniting economic opportunity. PS is the only SMSG segment organized by industry sectors (Government, Public Safety & National Security, Health & Education), which stands for building deeper vertical industry capability across the SMSG go-to-market process, as a means of driving greater customer adoption and usage of Microsoft technologies, longer term customer relationships, more strategic partner engagements, and industry-compliant product design.

In the past 16 years, Kostas had the opportunity to work for 3 iconic global companies (Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola and Microsoft). Kostas started his career with Procter & Gamble Greece in 1999 as a Financial Analyst moving through Marketing Teams, Customer Teams and Finance. He moved to Coca-Cola in 2002 as a Commercial Finance Manager and in 2003 he became the Financial Analysis Manager for Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Palestine. Kostas Loukas has been with Microsoft for more than 10 years and has built strong leadership capabilities in the areas of General Management, Marketing, Operations, and Finance. Kostas started his career with Microsoft Greece in 2005 as a Financial Controller, followed by a 3-year assignment as Finance and Administrative Director. In 2009, for one year, Kostas supported Microsoft Greece as acting subsidiary General Manager and as of 2010 as Marketing and Operations Director. Since January 2012, Kostas was Country Manager for Microsoft Cyprus and Malta before moving to Romania in 2013. During his 3 years’ appointment in Romania, the subsidiary has been consistently in the leading positions of the Emerging Medium cluster, while enjoying a WHI of almost 90pts.

Kostas has received a BA in Economics from the University of Athens in 1996. He graduated with Distinction the MSc in Finance from the London School of Economics in 1999. In 2011 he received his Executive MBA from INSEAD. Furthermore, he holds a Diploma in Executive Coaching and actively practices.