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Top Distinctions in Finance & Accounting Awards 2023

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group, a leading company in trade industry with business activities in Greece, Cyprus and Poland, has been recognized in Finance & Accounting Awards 2023, receiving 2 gold awards, as well as the top award of Finance Team of the Year.

Westnet was awarded in the “Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis (FP&A)” category for the use of innovative tools aiming to create reports that provide speed, reliability and efficiency in planning, forecasting, budgeting and analysis. The company invests significantly in its digital transformation, being one of the few companies in Greece across all sectors, that adopt such modern business solutions in terms of financial reporting through Business Intelligence (BI) tools.

The 2nd gold award for Westnet was in the category “Mergers & Acquisitions” for the completion of a successful acquisition in Poland in 2021. Westnet made a strategic acquisition, establishing a new subsidiary in Poland, with the success of the project undoubtedly lying in the quick and efficient completion of the process, thus highlighting the essential contribution of the Finance Department. The investment in Poland marks Westnet’s dynamic entry in a big European market, laying the groundwork for the creation of a hub aimed at optimally managing its commercial activity in Eastern Europe.

At the close of the event, Westnet received the top honor of the awards institution as Finance Team of the Year, standing out among the participating companies. The awards were received by George Dourmas, Head of Controlling & Reporting, and Petros Drivakos, Head of Accounting of Westnet, stating: “Thank you very much for these important awards. Westnet invests significantly in innovative tools and practices aiming to provide added value to the organization and its partners. It is a company that cultivates and empowers initiative and innovation, key ingredients of team’s success.”

The Finance & Accounting Awards are organized for the 3rd year by Boussias, rewarding the most effective and innovative practices in the field of financial management and accounting.

Management Changes at Westnet

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group, a leading company in the field of trade and distribution of products, with business activities in Greece, Cyprus and Poland, announces that George Daviotis completes his tenure in the company after 17 years of successful career, as well as that Konstantinos Magouras is appointed interim General Manager of Westnet.

After a long journey at Westnet, George Daviotis completes his tenure at the company having significantly contributed to its dynamic growth, both in and outside Greece. Through the roles of Sales Director, Commercial Director and since 2019 as General Manager, he led and actively participated in Westnet’s growth plans, ensuring the successful implementation of its strategic planning by building key partnerships, shaping a competitive product portfolio and expanding Westnet’s business in new geographies and markets.

The position of interim General Manager at Westnet is assumed by Konstantinos Magouras, the company’s Chief Operating Officer. He is an executive with rich experience in Sales and Finance and he has a long career within the Olympia Group since 2010, assuming a series of senior roles. In 2018, he assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer at Westnet and later on, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer having under his responsibility the departments of Finance, Legal, Logistics, Service and IT. He holds a BSc in Mathematics from National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and an MSc in Finance and Banking from Athens University of Economics and Business.

Mr. John Karagiannis, Executive Chairman of Olympia Group and President of Westnet’s Board of Directors, said: “I would like to sincerely thank George for his hard work, passion and commitment during all these years. With his leadership skills, dedication and professionalism, he has undoubtedly put his own personal stamp on Westnet’s identity, laying a strong foundation for the company’s future growth at all levels. I would like also to thank Konstantinos for his support in this transitional period, expressing the belief that with his experience and strategic directions he will support Westnet in achieving its strategic goals.”

Distinction of Westnet in “Protagonists of the Greek Economy 2022”

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group, synonymous with “Brand Distribution” for over 15 years with business in Greece, Cyprus and Poland, received an important distinction as Greek Business Champion in the context of the awards “Protagonists of the Greek Economy 2022”, standing out once again for its dynamic growth.

The “Protagonists of the Greek Economy” constitutes a renowned awards’ institution for Greek businesses, aiming to highlight the sustainable companies, reward their efforts and recognize their significant contribution to the Greek economy, based on their published financial results. The event was organized for 7th consecutive year by Direction Business Network under the auspice of the Ministry of Development and Investments.

Westnet was distinguished as Greek Business Champion, in a category that rewarded the companies with turnover more than €10 million which managed to increase their turnover and earnings before tax more than 10% comparing the fiscal year 2020 with that of 2019. The exceptional  performance of Westnet during that period, with a remarkable increase in these indices, distinguished it from dozens of other big Greek companies and led it to this great distinction.

The CFO of Westnet, Konstantinos Magouras, stated: “This distinction comes as a result of the redefinition of our strategy at the right time. In combination with the strong footprint in technology, Westnet also invested in new markets such as batteries, led lighting and home appliances, considering the big decline of technology sector during the period of the economic crisis in Greece, a strategy that led us to these remarkable results. The speed and flexibility, but also the talent and high expertise of our people, were the main drivers of our growth. We continue to look for markets and products that suit Westnet to further strengthen our goals, which are to bring value to our customers and end users.”

Westnet launches a new corporate website

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group, synonymous of “Brand Distribution” for over 15 years with business in Greece, Cyprus and Poland, reinforces its digital presence launching a new corporate website, www.westnetgroup.com.

With modern design, rich content in 3 languages – Greek, English & Polish – and optimized functionalities, westnetgroup.com comes to highlight Westnet’s corporate identity, reflecting its dynamics and vision: a leading company in distribution industry with business activity in 3 countries, significant growth through an enlarged portfolio of more than 40 brands and an exports network in 62 countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Integrating new technologies, westnetgroup.com stands out for its new, clean design and the user-friendly experience regardless of device, offering the opportunity for an easy and meaningful navigation. The visitor can be informed about the business, vendors and services of Westnet, its corporate news and distinctions and learn more about its people-oriented culture in the section “Our People”. At the same time, westnetgroup.com is a point of reference and communication channel for the company’s partners, who can visit the B2B e-commerce platform mywestnet.com through the new site, having access to more than 3,500 online products, ready-to-buy.

Mrs. Eleni Banila, Communications Manager of Westnet, stated: “The new corporate website westnetgroup.com reflects in the best possible way Westnet’s dynamics and our long-standing commitment to become more efficient and innovative. As a technologically advanced company, we wanted our upgraded online presence to depict the corporate identity and highlight the quality of services offered by Westnet. Our goal is to continue to strengthen our digital footprint and communications extroversion in all markets where we operate.”

Westnet: Top Distributor Greece & Cyprus 2021 by HPE

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group, synonymous with “Brand Distribution” for over 15 years with business in Greece, Cyprus and Poland, received two great distinctions by the leading tech company Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE).

With steadily dynamic growth despite the demanding conditions of the past year, Westnet managed to stand out once again among many companies in the ΙΤ distribution sector, winning the first place as a distributor of HPE for 2021 in both the Greek and Cypriot market – Top Distributor Greece & Cyprus 2021. This distinction reflects the increase in total sales in the category of hybrid IT (servers & storage), the development of the network of partners and the strengthening of sales in the channel of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Demonstrating focus on the target and timeless consistency, Westnet aims to remain a reliable partner, distinguished for its technological expertise, immediate response and high level of customer service throughout the entire sales cycle. It is this incessant focus on the needs of its customers that has further strengthened their trust to the company and led to the first place, this year in the Cyprus market as well.

On behalf of HPE, Mr. Michalis Kassimiotis, Managing Director for Greece and Cyprus, stated: “Today, the companies need the hybrid IT solutions to connect and utilize all their applications and data wherever they are and thus provide the best support to their employees and top-notch service to their customers. Our partnership with Westnet enables more and more companies in Greece and Cyprus to move on to the next phase of their digital transformation, benefiting from HPE’s innovative solutions.”

Regarding the awards, Mr. George Daviotis, General Manager of Westnet, stated: “For us, HPE is a long-standing strategic partner. This important distinction, which this year also includes our business in Cyprus, is here to confirm once again our leading position in the market. Westnet proves every day that it has the know-how, the experience and the most reliable distribution processes to effectively meet the needs of its partners. Focusing on our goals, we will continue to invest in partnerships that bring added value to our customers so that we can continue to grow with them.”

New dynamic partnership of Westnet with Daewoo

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group of Companies, synonymous with “Brand Distribution” for over 15 years with activity in Greece, Cyprus and Poland, announced the launch of partnership with Daewoo as its exclusive representative in Greece in the product categories of home appliances and television.

With a brand name distinguished for its product reliability and quality, Daewoo is a world-class home electronics brand, aspiring to make today the day everybody can upgrade to a new TV or update their house with a new home appliance.

Aiming to strengthen its product portfolio and expand the range of available solutions for its customers’ network, Westnet starts its partnership with Daewoo, a timeless Korean brand with a rich, decades-long history. During an event organized for its partners, Westnet – along with representatives of the brand in Greece – presented the new solutions that now brings to consumers with affordable products of high quality. For the best visitors’ experience, there was also created a show room with product models in the category of refrigeration, washing and television.

Zeynep Dağhan, Brand Marketing Manager Daewoo, talked about the philosophy of Daewoo which is characterized by simplicity and minimalism and stated: “Our mission is to make the latest and greatest technologies wallet-friendly and available for everyone to enjoy. That takes some serious expertise, but we have the experience as well as the scale and best-in-class engineering capabilities to do it and all from our world-leading R&D and manufacturing complex.”

Regarding the new partnership, the General Manager of Westnet, George Daviotis, stated: “Westnet has always focused on creating strategic partnerships, having to date over 40 leading manufacturers in its portfolio. The new partnership with Daewoo is part of our strategic planning, further enhancing our product “quiver” with its reliability and innovation. We continue to evolve, to invest in dynamic brands, remaining faithful to our commitment to bring added value to our partners who trust the distribution of Westnet.”

Presentation of Sharp’s product range by Westnet

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group of Companies, synonymous with “Brand Distribution” for over 15 years with activity in Greece, Cyprus and Poland, organized an event for the presentation of Sharp’s product portfolio to its partners from all over Greece.

In the context of its strategic planning, Westnet invests dynamically in the category “Clima & Home Appliances” having developed a robust business unit, with high expertise and reliable distribution processes. The company manages a competitive portfolio of products that bear the stamp of big brands worldwide and fully meet the needs of consumers.

Aiming to highlight the added value it brings to its customers, Westnet held an event to present Sharp’s product range, in the presence of foreign representatives of the leading manufacturer. The company’s activity as a distributor in the field of home appliances has as a point of reference the beginning of its cooperation with Sharp in 2018. Being Sharp’s exclusive representative in Greece, Westnet’s goal is to promote the brand’s innovation in terms of home comfort and all those product features that make it synonymous worldwide with quality and technological development. During the event, the company presented the product range in cooling, washing and air purification, while a show room with product models was created in the area for the best experience of visitors.

Mr. Elias Rizos, Senior Commercial Manager Clima & Home Appliances of Westnet, stated: “At Westnet we invest in dynamic partnerships with reliable and innovative brands in order to bring added value to our customers over time. Sharp has advanced technology and modern product solutions that add comfort to the everyday life of consumers and has rightly established itself as one of the top brands worldwide. Our goal is to further highlight the dynamics and values of the brand through the distribution of Westnet, bringing solutions that will contribute to our partners’ growth”.

Westnet strengthens its portfolio with AUX commercial AC products

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group of Companies and a top distributor in technology products in Greece and Cyprus, enriches its portfolio with AUX commercial air conditioning (AC) products expanding its partnership with the leading AUX Group.

AUX Group is one of China’s largest enterprise groups and one of the strongest in the world, covering several industries: home appliances, air conditioning, electrical equipment, medical services, real estate and investment. For many years it ranked China’s top 500 enterprises.

Following its strategic planning, Westnet continues to invest dynamically in AC category assuming now the exclusive distribution of AUX commercial AC products in Greece. The partnership between the two companies, which started at the end of 2020 with the distribution of AUX home AC in the Greek market, is now significantly strengthened with Westnet undertaking a comprehensive portfolio of product solutions in air conditioning, sealed with the credibility of a big manufacturer.

Sasa Wang, Sales Director AUX (Europe), stated: “We are very excited about this new cooperation. Westnet is a valuable partner, with vision, know-how and reliability, that will promote our brand in the best possible way and will strengthen our footprint in the Greek market.”

Regarding the new partnership, George Daviotis, General Manager of Westnet, said: “After a completely successful entry in the category of home air conditioning last year, Westnet now includes commercial AC in its product portfolio. Our partnership with AUX, a leading manufacturer worldwide, is expanding, growing and enables us to provide advanced solutions to our customers through a holistic approach in order to continuously bring added value. We continue, therefore, the implementation of our strategic plan by investing in a dynamic category and our goal is for AUX to gain, within the next few years, the market share in Greece that will reflect the strong position it holds in the global market.”

AUX has 11 manufacturing bases in China, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand and Poland and 5 R&D centers, where it develops state-of-the-art technologies and innovative functionalities for its products. It holds the 3rd place worldwide in the sector of AC based on exports, having products characterized by cutting-edge technology, high-quality design and higher performance. In addition, the company demonstrates a strong social footprint. In the past years, it has donated over $40 million in total to various social responsibility programs, such as the field of targeted poverty alleviation, education, disaster relief and environment protection.

Westnet: Gold Award for AUX marketing campaign

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group of Companies and a top distributor in technology products in Greece and Cyprus, received a Gold Distinction in the international MarCom Awards 2021, for the successful marketing campaign implemented earlier this year, in the context of the launch of AUX home air conditioning products in Greece.

Westnet was distinguished in the category “Strategic Communications – Marketing/Promotion Campaign – Product Launch” for the innovative campaign “Out-of-the-bAUX”, which included targeted activities – radio spots, outdoor advertising on city buses and underground, print advertisements – aiming to place the AUX brand in the Greek market. In order to enhance its brand awareness among consumers and establish it as a reliable proposition in the field of air conditioning, the campaign was built on a series of smart messages, educating the public about the product aspects that make AUX an attractive option.

Elias Rizos, Commercial Manager Home Comfort, stated: “Through its collaboration with the leading AUX Group, Westnet demonstrates significant growth in the product category of air conditioning as well. It is the exclusive distributor of AUX in Greece, bringing to the Greek market AC products that are characterized by advanced technology, top design and high performance. The successful marketing campaign that we implemented in the previous period, is a dynamic entry into a category where Westnet will continue to invest, following its strategic planning”.

MarCom Awards is an international awards institution that rewards excellence in marketing and communication, recognizing the effort and creativity of industry professionals. Since its start in 2004, MarCom has been developed into one of the largest and most-respected competitions in the world, attracting more than 6,500 nominations from dozens of countries each year. MarCom is sponsored by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), an international organization born in 1995, which is consisted of several creative professionals from the areas of marketing, communication, advertising, public relations.

Westnet’s campaign was implemented in collaboration with the advertising company TRABAHO and Interbus, a specialized company in the field of outdoor advertising.

Tech Days by Westnet

Westnet, a member of Olympia Group of Companies and a top distributor in technology products in Greece and Cyprus, organized the online event “Tech Days by Westnet” with the participation of leading manufacturers. The company built and implemented a new, dynamic initiative aiming to inform its customers in Greece and Cyprus about new trends in technology, while creating a forum for meeting and discussion among its partners.

The event took place on November 10-12th at Westnet’s headquarters, which were converted for three days into a live-streaming studio due to the needs of the event, hosting speakers from Greece and abroad. During this online 3-day tech event, Westnet’s partners-vendors were present and talked about their products and services in series of product categories, while giving insights regarding the latest market trends. With the participation of AOC, ASUS, Canon, Check Point, D-Link, Fujitsu, HPE, HP Inc., Huawei, Lenovo, MMD, PFU and Samsung, a rich agenda was formed including speeches and product presentations, which attracted a big number of online visitors from Greece and Cyprus.

Nikos Tsarouchas, Sales Manager of Westnet Greece & Cyprus, stated: “Westnet focuses on keeping its partners informed and trained, and “Tech Days” is a new initiative of our company towards this direction. Our aim is to continue investing in activities that will contribute to our partners’ growth, enabling them to explore our solutions as well as opportunities that could increase the competitiveness of their business. We would like to thank our vendors who supported this new effort of Westnet and honored us with their participation”.

With a successful journey for more than 15 years in distribution, Westnet invests in the development of mutually beneficial relations, so that it remains a strategic choice for its partners over time. The company’s goal is to provide reliable and integrated technology solutions in order to respond in the best possible way to the growing needs of its large network of customers, constantly adding value to their activity.

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