AI Issue 7 2017

16 Acquisition International - July 2017 ConnectedSky Legal & Corporate Consultants is an international corporate services provider, with its main offices in Nicosia & Limassol, both of which are the largest cities of Cyprus and main the financial and shipping hubs in the region. Following their firm’s inclusion in the 2017 Business Elite Awards, we spoke to Founder and CEO Charalambos Samir to learn more about the firm’s professional services. ConnectedSky Legal & Corporate Consultants have representative offices and affiliates worldwide which furthermore reinforce the firm’s global presence with the prolongation of their all-round corporate, banking, legal, tax, accounting and fiduciary services. Founder and CEO at ConnectedSky, Charalambos Samir is keen to begin the interview by sharing his reflections on winning the CEO of the Month – Cyprus and his career path before becoming a CEO. “It is a rewarding feeling when hard work and dedication are addressed with international recognition. Therefore, this CEO of the Month – Cyprus award also goes out to the entire ConnectedSky team, whose individual contributions have led up to the company’s amazing achievements so far. “My sense for entrepreneurship started during my law studies at The University of Manchester in England. Commencing with a rather simple business profile, whilst buying items from auctions and reselling them through eBay, I decided upon my return to Cyprus to take matters to the next level. “Determined to succeed, I established my own law firm and corporate services provider in 2011, plus over the single course of six years, we managed to secure both companies; ConnectedSky Legal & Corporate Consultants Limited and C. Samir & Co. LLC, into becoming internationally renowned enterprises with subsidiaries and representative offices in the highest profile business centres in the world. “More specifically ConnectedSky maintains fully fledged subsidiaries in London, Hong Kong, Malta, Moscow, Kiev and soon in the UAE and Warsaw. Recently ConnectedSky also established a branch in Limassol, the second largest city of Cyprus and main financial and shipping hub. “Being the CEO today and witnessing my vision come to life, has been one of the most heartfelt and proud moments of my life. I do feel that these positive developments are only the beginning of my career journey. With several initiatives, currently being worked out and further expansions on the Company: ConnectedSky Legal & Corporate Consultants Limited Name: Charalambos Samir Founder and CEO Email: charalambos@con- nectedsky.com Web Address: www.connectedsky.com Address: Igoumenitsas 12, CONNECTEDSKY HOUSE, P.C. 2027, Strovolos, Nicosia, Cyprus Telephone: +357 2225 8800 Innovative Legal, Tax and Corporate Services 1704AI09 way, who knows where we will stand within the next five years? It isn’t just a coincidence that our brand name ‘ConnectedSky’ is a reference to our ‘the Sky is not the limit’ vision.” As CEO, Charalambos is keen to reveal how he manages his staff and he also underlines the vital role they play in the success of the firm. “ConnectedSky values ambition and focusses on individuals who share its collegial and global mind- set. We insist on fostering our member’s goals and aspirations, because we acknowledge that there is more to work to be done than just deliverables and assignments. “Plus, if you are able as a CEO, to tailor an inclusive framework that leverages the needs and strengths of all your members of staff, they are therefore incentivised to identify and pursue opportunities autonomously, thus satisfying both their own and the company’s ambitions. “Everyone within ConnectedSky is a valuable part of a collective investment and thus they are guided sensibly throughout their professional and personal journey. It is their individual growth which we pursue, not just as a company, but rather as a family taking care of its own.” Charalambos then highlights exactly how he keeps himself motivated and positive, to remain a successful CEO. “Being the CEO of my own company has its indisputable benefits, but with such freedom comes great responsibility. It is an intense grind, that demands you invest your time in it on a 24/7 basis, without compromising your dedication in any way. “I believe that the key behind being a successful CEO has everything to do with approach. Anyone can be a boss, but it takes true ambition and perseverance to be a leader and demonstrating leadership is priceless to the growth of any business. Being a CEO is not simply about handing out duties, it is much more than that, it’s about connecting with your employees, inspiring change, encouraging personal growth, influencing decisions, including those who need guidance and a myriad of other actions, which effectively demonstrate leadership. C