Clive Docwra, Director and Head of PPP, McBains Cooper Group

The construction of 14 school units in the Attica region of Greece was one of the first schools PPP projects in the country. McBains Cooper Group acted as lender’s technical advisor and independent certifier. Clive Docwra outlines the challenges and rewards of bringing UK expertise in the educational model to Greece, and the advantages of McBains Cooper’s interdisciplinary way of working in the successful delivery of the project.

Anastasios Triantafyllos, Partner, Pistiolis-Triantafyllos Associates

The Greek government is working hard and fast to reform its business environment and become more attractive to foreign investors. A key pillar in becoming more internationally competitive is reducing employment costs, and indeed labour law has changed more in the last 18 months than the preceding 18 years. Anastasios Triantafyllos discusses the potential for long-term reform in Greece.

Konstantinos Tzoutzourakis, Investor Relations Director, Hygeia

In 2006 MIG acquired Hygeia SA, turning it into the largest healthcare provider in southeast Europe through rapid M&A. Konstantinos Tzoutzourakis discusses the group’s targets for more organic growth and its commitment to good corporate governance.

Artem Konstandyan, President, Promsvyazbank

Many Russian businesses were taken by surprise by the financial crisis and the country’s interconnection with the global economy. However, as Promsvyazbank’s Artem Konstandyan points out, Russia has weathered the crisis well and has huge potential for growth, with just 24 percent of the population estimated to have bank accounts, a rising per capita income, and increasing demand for financial products. He describes PSB’s plans to expand its retail services alongside its historic strengths.

Jeff Holland, Partner, Brown Brothers Harriman

Considerable regulatory and cost pressures have forced private banks to adopt new business models and distinguish clearly between their client segments. Brown Brothers Harriman has identified one emerging trend caused by this perfect storm: ‘multi-convergence’, where universal banks, private banks and asset managers are consolidating their businesses. Jeff Holland explains the changing landscape.

Paul Patterson, Head of Global Trust, RBC Wealth Management

In recent years, the Channel Islands have implemented higher standards of regulation. Combined with their natural strengths of political stability, tax neutrality and a large pool of wealth management talent, they have become recognised as high-standard financial centres. Paul Patterson outlines how RBC Wealth Management’s Canadian heritage, strong capital base, and uniquely integrated delivery put it ahead of its competitors in private banking, and describes some of the future opportunities that will arise from operating in the Channel Islands.