AmCham Cyprus Executive Forum 2026 successfully explores the full AI Leadership Agenda
The American Chamber of Commerce in Cyprus (AmCham Cyprus) on May 2 successfully delivered its flagship Executive Forum 2026 “From Compliance to Competitiveness: The Complete AI Leadership Agenda”.
Organized by the Digital Transformation and Fintech Committee, the forum attracted a strong audience of government and business leaders, policymakers, and technology experts, providing a high-level platform for dialogue on how AI is reshaping industries and how organizations can transform regulatory compliance into a catalyst for innovation and competitive advantage.
The forum opened with welcome remarks by Mr. Paris P. Savva, Regional Manager Cyprus, Fortinet, Head of AmCham Committee on Digital Transformation and Fintech, who highlighted the growing importance of AI as a defining driver of competitiveness and a strategic priority for organizations across industries.
The keynote address by Mr. Khaliq Khan, Vice President, Global Lead, Kyndryl Vital, set the tone for the day, presenting a global perspective on AI-powered transformation. He emphasized how organizations are increasingly adopting AI-first approaches to reinvent customer experience, optimize operations, and unlock new value through data-driven decision-making.
Stéphanie Laulhé Shaelou, Professor of European Law and Reform and Head of the School of Law at UCLan Cyprus, provided an expert overview of the EU AI Act, shedding light on its core principles, risk classifications, and regulatory requirements. She demystified the evolving European regulatory landscape and highlighted its practical implications for organizations seeking to innovate responsibly while ensuring compliance in an AI-driven economy explored how AI can unlock innovation and enhance business competitiveness.
Panelists included:
• Mr. Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist of Research Innovation and Technology of the Republic of Cyprus
• Mr. Gerasimos Ntouskas, Partner and Head of Technology Consulting, KPMG Cyprus
• Mr. Minos Georgakis, Director, PwC Cyprus Technology Consulting
• Ms. Niki Ioannou, Director, Cyta Business
Mr. Demetris Skourides offered a strategic perspective on Cyprus’ innovation agenda, highlighting the country’s efforts to leverage AI as a key driver of economic growth and international competitiveness.
The broader discussion focused on how AI is enabling data-driven decision-making, operational efficiency, and new business models, with panelists sharing practical insights on scaling AI solutions and aligning digital transformation with business strategy.
The second panel, moderated by Dr. Maria Terzi, CEO & Co-Founder of Malloc Inc., addressed the practical challenges organizations face in deploying AI systems.
Dr. Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, opened the discussion by underlining the importance of aligning AI adoption with national priorities and European regulatory frameworks, while continuing to foster innovation and digital transformation.
The discussion continued with contributions from:
• Mr. Flavio Arzarello, Public Policy Manager, Economic and Regulatory Policy, Meta Italy
• Mr. Demetris Nicolaou, Chief Digital Officer, Bank of Cyprus
• Mr. Nicolas Mesaritis, Chief Technology Officer, ECOMMBX
Panelists explored key issues, including managing regulatory complexity and compliance requirements, ensuring data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity, addressing integration challenges in existing systems and building trustworthy and ethical AI frameworks.
The forum was also addressed by Mr. Theodoros Loukaides, Director General, Research & Innovation Foundation, who presented available funding instruments and support mechanisms for AI adoption, encouraging organizations to leverage national and European initiatives.
The forum concluded with a networking reception, enabling participants to exchange ideas and build strategic partnerships.
AmCham Cyprus expresses its sincere appreciation to all event sponsors and namely:
Platinum Sponsor – Fortinet, Gold Sponsors – Bank of Cyprus, CYTA, Kyndryl, Meta, KPMG, Silver Sponsor – The Magnet, Kraken Cyprus and Communication Sponsor: RedWolfOgilvy.
