Intralot chairman and founder replaces Antonios Kerastaris as CEO

Intralot has announced this month the departure of chief executive Antonios Kerastaris, shortly after confirming the loss of its bid to continue operating Turkey’s sports betting concession. The company did not specify any reasons behind his resignation.

On March 1st, the company announced that the Chairman of its Board, Mr. Sokratis Kokkalis, will also assume the duties of Chief Executive Officer, following the resignation of Mr. Kerastaris as CEO and Executive Member of the Board of Directors. 

Mr. Kerastaris will be replaced in the Board of Directors by Mr. Alexandros-Stergios Manos as non-executive board member.

Sokratis Kokkalis a successful businessman

Kokkalis is the founder and majority shareholder of Intracom Holdings and the Chairman and majority shareholder of Intralot S.A. He has established and presides over the Kokkalis Foundation, a non-profit organization that "promotes education and training, culture and social welfare, medical research and information technology, and athletics", both in Greece and abroad.

Kokkalis founded Intracom in 1977 as a telecommunication equipment supplier and manufacturer. The company played a leading role in the modernization of telecommunication infrastructure in Greece, especially through a partnership with Ericsson for the manufacturing of digital switches. 

Kokkalis founded Intralot in 1992, as a hardware and software supplier for the gaming industry. Intralot became one of the three top companies in the sector worldwide, currently with 5,100 employees and presence in 52 regulated jurisdictions around the globe. 

Kokkalis also led Panafon, the mobile venture of Vodafone in Greece, immediately after the launch of mobile telephony in Greece in 1992.

In 2005 INTRACOM became a Holding company and acquired Hellas Online, an ISP provider which became a major telephony and Internet supplier. Hellas Online was sold to Vodafone in 2014.