Loukas Tzitzis has spent over 25 years driving business & innovation in multiple technology domains, bringing him today to the cutting-edge of AI, Cybersecurity, Web3, Fintech & MedTech. We spoke to Loukas to discuss his journey and vision for the future.
A Multifaceted Journey
Over the last 25 years, Loukas has been at the forefront of global innovation, transforming industries and inspiring change beyond boardrooms. From spearheading disruptive technology & business model innovation to navigating the complexities of cultural differences and international business, his journey across startups, SMEs, and corporates is one of relentless pursuit of excellence and impact. Born with a natural curiosity and a love for learning, Loukas began his academic journey in biomedical sciences, earning a degree in Genetics but decided to pivot towards the business world early on.
Reflecting on his beginnings, Loukas shared, “I have not had the most classical start to my professional journey. Starting in Genetics in the UK, I was set on specialising in medical genetics and a medical degree in the US. Those were brilliant and exciting times as we started understanding the potential of genomics combined with machine learning and bioinformatics – and that is exactly when I realised that my true calling was outside the lab and clinics! I became aware that my future was at the intersection of business, technology, and leadership and technology could potentially transform everyone’s lives. So, I pursued a Master’s degree in Management and I have not looked back since”.
Following his early days at British Telecom, where he honed his expertise in digital infrastructure, over the next 15 years Loukas pivoted his career towards SMEs across EMEA, where he was selected for increasingly senior positions, deepening his understanding of the importance of culture as well as his expertise across IT segments, sales, marketing, strategy, and technology. His first executive role in Austria as COO of a 300M EUR digital holding operating across 16 countries marked a turning point, preparing him for his first CEO position almost a decade ago. It was during his first CEO tenure in Romania that Loukas understood the importance and emergence of cybersecurity as a crucial guardian of business stability and growth, a lesson that he has carried for the last 10 years.
Subsequent leadership roles at Nexign, Amdocs, Tech Mahindra, and Gentrack have led to successes that have solidified his reputation as a transformative leader who is not afraid to disrupt traditional practices in pursuit of progress while balancing the need for business results that address management and shareholder expectations, earning recognition from clients and industry analysts alike.
In the last few years, Loukas Tzitzis has been focusing on his passion for creating and scaling up tech businesses that generate tangible business & societal outcomes through the application of cutting-edge technologies. Most recently and building on his work in the late 90s as part of a team that published the first application of DNA sequencing & early ML algorithms for the detection of Tuberous sclerosis, his work has been focused on the application of genomics, analytics, and AI-driven diagnostics towards personalized medicine and significant improvement of mental health treatments – fields poised to redefine healthcare; as well as leveraging the power of AI in cybersecurity and fintech.
In an increasingly digitally connected society, Tzitzis believes that IoT, CPS, AI & Cybersecurity are due to redefine our present and future. “The amount of connected objects has been growing steadily and we can now really use the word ubiquitous. However, we were only scratching the surface of the data & insights potential of IoT for the last 5–10 years but 2025 is shaping to be a turning point, especially for IioT and CPS.”
Marking the right choices: Leadership in Tech and People
Loukas believes that the true power of technology lies in its ability to democratize opportunities and create inclusive economies. His leadership has always been guided by the principle that innovation should not just disrupt, but uplift.
Eager to learn how Loukas decides on the next technologies to be involved in, we asked “What is your framework for selecting the right technology and business to be involved in?”
“This is all about what I call “innovation on the money” and I am a strong believer in getting involved with “horizontal technologies” that can disrupt almost any vertical market. There is no magic wand and if anything, I have tended to be involved with the right technologies a bit too early, but the important thing is to not be too early or too late. Take for example Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) and Cybersecurity! The TRITON attack happened in 2017, and I recall giving an interview about IioT and Cybersecurity in CPS in the Middle East in 2019.
Yet, I think it is only now that we can truly say that we have reached the necessary “critical mass” in the whole ecosystem for the importance of CTEM in CPS to come front and centre!
There are projections of 75 billion Cyber Physical System (CPS)-connected devices being used primarily in Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Financial Services, and Smart Cities by the end of 2025. Combine that with the introduction – as well as threat by malicious actors – of AI capabilities and one can immediately see that we are about to enter an unprecedented era of intelligence as well as potentially being on the precipice of tremendous risks as AI increasingly takes over critical workloads of the economy. This development not only requires enhanced CTEM capabilities but also demands platforms that unify operational risk management, compliance, and real-time automation to drive not just security but operational excellence. This is the time when innovation is coming on the money!”
On his leadership style, Loukas reflected, “I’ve never believed in leadership by authority but I do believe in reaching fast, intelligent decisions and taking decisive action. The best ideas come from engaging the right people for a task at hand and then guiding them through their collaboration, from challenging existing models, and from giving people the freedom to think beyond limitations.
I expect a lot, but if you’re a team player, proficient in your domain, deliver results, and bring the right energy, I’ll fully support your growth. My principles include transparency, empowerment, mentorship, accountability, adaptability, and collaboration. Leaders must develop people and proactively address change. Building high-performing teams often requires tough decisions, and ‘defining and communicating’ is key—sharp, simple, and clear. Leaders must balance empathy and friendliness, handle conflict with care, and embrace ‘growing pains’ for progress. Leadership is like a mixed athletics event, alternating between sprints and marathons—so take care of yourself.”
AI’s Transformative Impact on Industries
AI is reshaping every sector, and Loukas sees its potential as limitless.
“There is no segment of the economy that will not be disrupted by AI! Beyond what I mentioned before in CPS and Cybersecurity, my recent dealings in MedTech showed me the tremendous potential of AI to revolutionise diagnostics, personalised medicine, patient care and drug discovery. There are also several use cases in Transportation, Manufacturing, education, and many more.
Not many people realise the astounding level of automation and machine learning that is being employed even as we speak today in trading, fraud detection, and customer service! I am personally particularly fascinated by the emerging potential of AI agents in financial services. What is truly exciting is that we are very close to AI agents becoming self-reliant and independent “robo-advisors”, taking algorithmic trading to the next level by powering an increasing level of independence from humans and intermediaries, improving predictive modeling for volatile assets such as cryptocurrencies and thus becoming a critical co-driver of decentralisation in finance platforms together with blockchain!
Obviously, we need to ensure that the right level of risk mitigation and issues management is put in place. For example, everyone is becoming aware of the fact that we need to remove the divide between developed and developing nations, something which the AI For Developing Nations Forum, an organisation which I am a proud member of, is working towards. We also need to increase the level of transparency in AI models that are handling “mission-critical” applications as well as remove the bias and discrimination introduced by historical data in training AI models. Regulation and compliance are also essential, but we need to ensure that there is a balance between these aspects and the potential of AI to transform businesses and societies. The list is non-exhaustive, this is just a small snapshot of all the aspects we need to ensure we consider as AI benefits continue to be delivered.
Ultimately, we need to remember that we should never lose a supervisory capability over such systems as the responsibility is on us to deliver the benefits and manage the risks and issues.
But we need to be honest with ourselves on one more critical point: AI will affect jobs in every segment. As far as I am concerned, this is not something to be afraid of! Humanity has managed to evolve through technology and industrial revolutions in the past and it will manage now. The onus is on each one of us to be prepared but at the same time, governments, companies and public-private partnerships have a part to play in reskilling today’s workforce for the future as well as set the education curriculum for the next generations.
Ultimately, make no mistake; AI has the potential to totally change our lives, and the only question is a matter of time, regulation, and bringing the cost base down to a level that allows mass adoption and usage of AI.”
Business Triumphs and Future Vision
Loukas highlighted that in today’s world, leaders have a responsibility to shape the future, and this must be considered when defining achievement. “I have been fortunate to have a diverse and successful career with notable business milestones, but I tend not to dwell on them. I always say that what truly matters is not what you think of yourself but what your customers and peers say. In that sense, the 2025 Financial Services Thought Leadership Global Award, the 2023 DX Inspire Global Award for Innovation Ecosystems, and my inclusion in the 2021 UK CIO 100 hold great significance, as they reflect industry-wide recognition of my impact beyond individual tenures.
At the same time, my involvement with the AI for Developing Nations Forum and my selection as an Ambassador at the AI Frontier Network are just as meaningful—if not more. As leaders, we must foster a more inclusive and innovative future, which begins with education and openness in technological advancement,” he said.
Looking ahead, he predicts that AI will continue revolutionizing financial services, MedTech, and cybersecurity “With AI, Web3, and Cybersecurity—combined with the right balance of regulation, legislation, and supervision—the future of industries will be more autonomous and efficient,” he concluded.
Advice Shaping Career Paths
We ended the interview by asking “Could you give us a summary of the best pieces of career advice you have ever received?”
Loukas Tzitzis shared “I have been fortunate to have received excellent advice from multiple people all over the world. I will be forever grateful for their advice, support, and guidance in helping shape my career. If I had to select a few specifically, I would have to go with – Adjusting and respecting different cultures, focusing on EQ rather than IQ, being consistent, working hard, building bridges, being a top 1% communicator, and surrounding yourself with people that are smarter, more experienced and more accomplished are the keys to winning. Make no mistake; winning matters and those that sell, win. Those that play to participate and do not sell, are quickly and easily forgotten.”
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