Choosing to present Mr. Samir at the launch of my blog was done purposely. By reading through you will realize why.
Let me first share in brief what ConnectedSky managed to do within its 6 years of operation. ConnectedSky has grown to become a truly international leading provider of legal, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, international tax planning, trust, fiduciary, risk management, compliance advisory, accounting and other professional and consulting services. Today, ConnectedSky operates from its headquarters in Nicosia, its newly established branch in Limassol as well as from its subsidiaries in Moscow, Kiev, London, Hong Kong, and Malta.
In addition to the aforementioned group offices, the company has presence in another 20+ locations worldwide, something which enables its clients to benefit globally from the expertise of its professionals. The demand for tailor-made and high-quality professional services continues to increase, and ConnectedSky is at the forefront developing new services and improving or adjusting existing ones in order to serve its present and new clients, partners and associates around the globe.
What is also impressive is that ConnectedSly managed to set up its own Multi-Family Office in London under the group company name of Desmos Capital Limited, its own VIP Concierge & Lifestyle Management Company again in London under the group company name of FirstClassProject.
In addition to the above, and as part of its strategic global expansion and increase of its in house services, ConnectedSky has set up an amazing initiative under the group company name CYMEBA which stands for Cyprus Middle East Bridge with Africa. This initiative is focused on business, cultural, and humanitarian promotion among its member countries.
When I was first appointed by Mr. Samir to handle his HR Department as an External Consultant (Acting HR Manager) and also to train his Personal Assistant to be familiar with some HR procedures I was wondering why he had this business need. Before visiting a client for the first time, I always contact my research in order to know who I am going to meet. Well, Mr. Charalambos Samir is an Attorney, Member of the Cyprus Bar Association with a broad specialization in the area of international corporate, legal and tax services, with a strong focus on M&A, setting up and restructuring of international projects and international tax planning.
Mr. Samir is advising ultra-high-net-worth clients and some of the world’s largest corporations in terms of total global turnover located in Russia, CIS countries, Ukraine, Middle East, Africa, Mexico, India, Israel, EU and UK just to mention a few. His advise is mainly focused on various types of Foundations, Trusts, Legal Advisory, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Foreign Investment, Cyprus Citizenship and Residency, Cyprus Investment Funds, Forex Companies, Alternative Investment Funds, Shipping and Transactions by using favourable Cyprus and international legal, tax and banking environment.
Since he is always trying to develop his skills, knowledge and specialisation, Mr Samir has been recently admitted to the post graduate diploma of STEP Private Wealth Management which will be taught at Oxford University, UK.
Entering ConnectedSky Headquarters in Nicosia, one of the things that it’s so obvious is that it’s a “women world”. In CommectedSky the majority of the employees are women with the exception of the personal driver of Mr. Samir and the firm’s messengers. So that gave me the kick off point of my ice-breaking introduction with him. Mr. Samir explained to me that: “Working with women can be challenging by its self although it was not my initial purpose or goal to have only female employees and by no means was done purposely to discriminate”.
Getting to the actual work and spending months within the company I have noticed that Mr. Samir managed to balance work and personal life. Let me share with you some of his daily routine, a typical 48 hour:
• He is at the office maximum by 07:45am and after the first coffee he is going through his emails and having a quick briefing with his PA, who is his left and right hand. He usually spends around 30 minutes planning his morning meetings before having his first internal meeting.
• He tries to fit maximum 6 meetings within a working day which is usually between 10 to 12 hours daily. What I notice is that in each meeting he has a coffee…so he ends up having 6 coffees by the end of his working day…still wondering how he can actually handle so much caffeine (he explained that the reason may be that for every 3rd coffee he is having a lemonade with sparking water along with his coffee, a strange but rather tasty combination!)
• His first internal meeting is always with the Head of Corporate Department due to the nature/primary area of the company’s business. During this meeting the next business traveling destination is discussed and agreed either to meet with new or existing clients or just to visit the offices that ConnectedSky has.
• He calls it a routine…..lunch break between 13:00 – 14:30…either in the office or lunching out he likes to spoil himself. As he says: “…treat yourself the way that you want others to treat you”. In this case what I saw is that Mr. Samir knows how to treat his staff members too….sushi lunches and after work drinks are among the monthly business routine.
• He leaves the office around 19:00pm since he tries to exercise 3 to 4 times per week…”it’s important to balance business and pleasure and spend quality time with friends and family”. He also admitted that there are days that he prefers to work from home instead of going to the office: “…I like giving my employees the trust they need in order to perform alone….they know exactly where to find me if an urgent issue arises”.
• His dress code in general is business smart: “…a business meeting may come up any time so better to be smartly dressed up”.
• He enjoys a good Gurkha Black Dragon or Hoyo de Monterrey cigar with his favourite Hennessy XO cognac even during a non-formal business meeting…”who said that you cannot spent quality time with your existing or potential clients, business partners, staff and friends? After all, life is not only about work”.
Spending working time with Mr. Samir I could easily say that he managed to become an employer of choice by respecting and promoting the value of all employees in Cyprus and abroad. As a Founder & CEO he has great respect for his employees’ aims and ambitions and develops their skills. “We have always aimed at maintaining strong corporate values and this has definitely contributed greatly towards the firm’s success”.
Spending working time with Mr. Samir I came to a conclusion that he totally supports his company moto from day one which applies for both clients and staff members; “In ConnectedSky We Grow When You Grow”.