Maria-Stefania Katsiapi Joins IDEAL Holdings as Group General Counsel in Athens

Maria-Stefania Katsiapi has become IDEAL Holdings’ new Group General Counsel.

Prior to joining the company, Katsiapi worked as Director of Legal Services at Public Group between 2019 and 2025. Earlier, she was Legal Counsel at Olympia Group of Companies between 2010 and 2019.

She also retains her practice – Digikoros par Efetai – as a Freelance Attorney at Law with the Athens Bar Association. She has held this position since 2009.

Katsiapi started her legal career as an Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright, where she worked between 2009 and 2010.

“After more than 15 years at Olympia Group, heading the legal function of Public stores, one of the leading omnichannel retailers in Greece and in Cyprus, I saw this as the right moment to embark on a new chapter,” Katsiapi commented. “IDEAL Holdings, as a listed holding company with a strong and expanding portfolio, provides a unique opportunity to further enrich my in-house experience across different industries and to focus even more as General Counsel on strategic areas and on compliance and governance — areas that are increasingly indispensable for the modern, T-shaped lawyer. I am excited to contribute to IDEAL’s growth journey and to work closely with the teams to ensure we deliver on both business ambition and best-in-class corporate governance practices.”

Stathis Papageorgiou has returned to Public Group to as its Director of Legal Services following Katsiapi’s departure (as reported by CEE In-House Matters on September 10, 2025).

Get the memo – every week

Essential in-house updates, straight to your inbox.

Interview with Dora Kovacs of Hell Energy Magyarorszag

Head of Legal at Hell Energy Magyarorszag shares her thoughts on the legal and regulatory trends that are likely to impact the FMCG sector over the next few years, what skills make an in-house professional an effective leader, and more.

Martin Kraft Becomes the Legal Director, Switzerland and Austria at Pfizer

Kraft, currently based in Switzerland, joined the pharmaceutical company in 2024 and has since held a number of roles.

FEG Names Lukas Frohlich as Group Legal & Compliance Director

Prior to FEG, he worked as a Corporate Secretary at Home Credit Asia between 2021 and 2024 and Lawyer at HB Reavis between 2014 and 2016.