Monaco-based Anastasios (Tassos) Economou has been elected chairman of the Board of Directors of YPO, a global leadership community for chief executives.

It was announced earlier this week that Economou will be the 69th member to hold this office and will succeed current YPO Chairman Elizabeth Zucker. He will begin his term on 1st July 2020.

A member of YPO Monaco, Economou is the Founder and Managing Director of iGroup. Focusing on relative value investing, iGroup looks to spot an industry that is at the low part of the business cycle and invest in it. Industries where iGroup primarily are present include shipping, tech, spirits, real estate and biotech.

“YPO is very dear to me, it is my second family,” says Economou. “I cherish our values and the time we spend together. I am humbled to have been chosen to serve YPO further from the position of chairman and I look forward to being able to serve this family and make the YPO experience even more relevant for all my peers.”

The YPO chairman is elected by member peers on the board. Economou continues the legacy of YPO’s founder and first president, Ray Hickok, who set the standard for peer leadership.

“Tassos brings an incredible combination of business acumen, YPO experience and an energetic personality to the role of YPO chairman that I know will have an amazing impact on our organisation,” says Zucker. “Working alongside him over the coming year will be both my great pleasure and an honor.”

Economou joined YPO in 2005 and has been an active member at the chapter, regional and global level, having held more than 25 leadership positions.

He is an elected director of the YPO board and currently serves as Chair of the Membership Council, Co-Vice Chair of the Chapters and Regions Committee, and a member of the Strategy and Finance Committees. He is also a member of the Chapter Model and Prominence and Diversity Work Groups.

Economou was awarded the Alexander L. Cappello award in 2017, which is YPO’s highest honour in membership development service. That same year, he was recognised with the Best of the Best YPO Region award for his work with the Europe Region. Tassos is also the Creator of the YPO LAB (Leaders Across Borders) program where members inspire their peers with life-changing moments shared through storytelling.

YPO brings together more than 28,000 chief executives in over 130 countries, who are driven by the belief that the world needs better leaders. Members’ companies are diversified among industries and types of businesses, employ more than 22 million people globally and generate USD9 trillion in annual revenues.