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OPAP Cyprus Announces New CEO And Board Of Directors

OPAP Cyprus has appointed Alexandros Davos as the new CEO, effective immediately. Davos joined the company in June 2023 as General Commercial Director and took on managerial responsibilities in January 2024, significantly contributing to the company’s operations.

Alongside this appointment, OPAP Cyprus has restructured its Board of Directors, welcoming new members to support the company’s future endeavours, particularly following the recent 15-year concession agreement with the Cypriot government. The board now includes Kamil Ziegler as President and members Jan Karas, Maki Georgiou, Christos Pitta, Fotis Zisimopoulos, Elias Katsaros, Petros Xarchakos, and Panos Gavriil.

In his new role, Davos is expected to drive strategic initiatives and leverage his commercial expertise to further enhance OPAP Cyprus’ market position. The company’s decision to refresh its leadership team reflects a broader strategy to adapt to evolving market conditions and regulatory environments.

The company expressed gratitude to the outgoing board members, Charalambos Christou and Isidoros Makridis, for their dedicated service and contributions. Their tenure saw substantial developments within OPAP Cyprus, setting a solid foundation for the new leadership to build upon.

This leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for OPAP Cyprus as it navigates the complexities of the gaming industry and seeks to expand its footprint within the region. The new board members bring a wealth of experience and a diverse set of skills that are anticipated to drive innovation and operational excellence.

As OPAP Cyprus embarks on this new chapter, the company’s stakeholders and market observers will be keenly watching how these changes will influence its strategic direction and performance in the competitive gaming sector.

The appointment of Davos and the refreshed board is a strategic move designed to align the company with its long-term goals, ensuring sustainable growth and continued success in the Cypriot market.

Amazon’s AI Bets and Cost-Cutting Measures Pay Off, Boosting Stock by 5%

Shares of Amazon surged over 5% in after-hours trading on Thursday after the company reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter earnings. Amazon announced earnings per share of $1.43, alongside revenue reaching $158.9 billion, surpassing analyst projections of $1.14 per share and $157.2 billion in revenue, according to FactSet.

Key Financial Highlights

  • North American Sales: Amazon’s North American segment recorded a 9% year-over-year sales increase, totalling $95.5 billion.
  • AWS Growth: Amazon Web Services (AWS), the company’s cloud unit, posted $27.5 billion in revenue, marking a 19% rise compared to the same period last year.
  • Stock Movement: Although Amazon’s stock initially fell over 3% on Thursday before earnings were released, it rebounded significantly in after-hours trading. So far, Amazon shares are up almost 24% year-to-date.

Background on Amazon’s Strategy

Amazon’s recent efforts include major cost-cutting moves, guided by CEO Andy Jassy, to streamline operations since 2022. This restructuring has led to over 27,000 layoffs and the closure of initiatives such as Amazon’s telehealth and same-day delivery services. Despite these reductions, Amazon is doubling down on other key areas, like a $52 billion investment in nuclear energy to support data centers in Virginia, Mississippi, and Ohio. The company is also moving forward with **Project Kuiper**, aiming to build a satellite network of 3,236 units to broaden internet access worldwide—a venture projected to involve over $10 billion in launch costs across five years, according to analysts from Wedbush Securities.

Amazon’s Market Reach

July’s Prime Day achieved “record-breaking sales,” while the introduction of Amazon’s AI-powered shopping assistant, **Rufus** was rolled out to U.S. customers last month. Notably, Amazon had slightly missed expectations in the previous quarter and cautioned that intense news cycles could distract customers—a factor cited by CFO Brian Olsavsky during the second-quarter earnings call. Despite these challenges, the company’s annual revenue is expected to remain strong.

Noteworthy Figures

Amazon’s market capitalization has reached $1.96 trillion, making it the fifth-largest company globally, trailing behind Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos, who served as Amazon’s CEO until 2021, holds a net worth of $204.1 billion, much of which is tied to Amazon’s stock. Market fluctuations ahead of Amazon’s earnings report momentarily decreased Bezos’ wealth by around $6 billion. Bezos ranks as the second-richest American, after Elon Musk, on the Forbes 400 list.

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