Chief Information Officer, CIO
Karelia Tobacco Company S.A.
Company’s products are sold in Greece and exported to plus 65 countries around the world.
Business Information…Karelia Tobacco Company S.A., founded in 1888, is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco related products. Headquartered in Kalamata, Greece, the Company’s products are sold in Greece and exported to plus 65 countries around the world. Currently run and operated by the 4th generation family members, the Company employs a well-seasoned, experienced and dedicated workforce between 490-550 individuals to oversee, manage and facilitate daily operations and market its tobacco products.
Dr. Ardounis serves as Chief Information Officer of Karelia Tobacco Company. She has been the Company’s CIO for the past 16 years. Responsible for all activities and resources of Karelia Tobacco’s IT/IS department, she is committed to using a proactive, productive and transparent management approach in the conduct of day-to-day operations. Applying an exceptional degree of personal and corporate ethics, she ensures Karelia’s management effectively, utilizes current technologies to manufacture and deliver quality tobacco products to its domestic and international clients. Playing an essential and pivotal leadership role within the Company, Dr. Ardounis is responsible for overseeing IT and telecommunication professionals in different disciplines.
Her wide-ranging responsibilities include repairing; purchasing state-of-the-art software/hardware technology; and training individuals to ensure a capability exists to perform all duties as is necessary to ensure the continued soundness and stability of operations.
She holds a doctorate in Computer Science Information Systems from the University of Belford, an MSc in Information Technology and an MBA degree from Almeda University and a BSc degree in Computer Science from Roosevelt University.
Her broad, extensive experience, competence and expertise; her proven success in her profession; her international exposure and professional contacts and an astute grasp of IT/IS systems, business and strategic management enables her to efficiently handle her divergent duties. With a range of strategic and operational responsibilities, Dr.Ardounis is responsible for the overall technological direction for the entire Company. She is a member of the executive team and is actively engaged in the strategic vision planning.
One of her primary challenges is getting the Board/CEOs to fully understand the value of new technology. Integrating systems, maximizing cost and providing additional training is also some of the challenges she faces.
Effectively performing her duties under pressure, she has successfully embraced and withstood the many challenges that her position brings. Her IT as well as her business acumen has been the strength on which the Company has made great strides in the industry, domestically and internationally. Dr. Ardounis is also involved in devising and defining the Company’s medium and long-range strategy, and aligning the resources to move towards this strategy.
Securing an enviable reputation and proven track record, she has gained the respect of her colleagues and peers. She tackles the tough challenges her position brings, especially in implementing IT management, obtaining sufficient and relevant resources, communicating and collaborating internally and externally and managing change.
Doing work in the USA and Greece in tourism and education are cited as two of her achievements.
Dr. Ardounis’ IT area strategies are geared to achieve stable and sustainable income growth, operational competitiveness, a higher level of service and greater risk assessment capabilities. She is focused on enhancing productivity and delivering outstanding returns to shareholders.
Operating at the highest level, she wants to get the IT Department set up according to today’s business practices, go a step further unifying IT & Communications (marrying yesterday with tomorrow) and eventually teach at a university.
Reflecting professionalism, Dr. Ardounis is open-minded, innovative and a forward-thinker with highly developed diplomatic, verbal and negotiation skills.
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