The winners of the 2nd Young Dragon Awards were revealed during a lively ceremony at Nicosia Municipal Theatre last night.
The event was hosted by Pan Dragomir and addressed by IMH CEO George Michail, the Director of Cyta Business Niki Ioannou, and guest speaker John Christodoulou, the Founder of the Yianis Group.
The new Young Dragons are:
Tourism, Hotel, Leisure, Food and Beverage
Marios Kolokasides – CEO – ZK FOODS
With a background in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Advanced Mechanical Engineering, Marios Kolokasides brings a strong technical and analytical foundation to his leadership role.
His career began with the creation of Cycold, a pioneering logistics venture specializing in temperature-controlled storage and distribution. Appointed CEO at the launch of the project, he oversaw the development of state-of-the-art cold rooms with a capacity exceeding 7,000 pallets and the integration of advanced warehouse and transportation management systems. Under his direction, Cycold grew into the country’s largest and most professional provider of temperature-controlled logistics services.
Kolokasides was appointed CEO of Yiallouros Eurofoods, leading a strategic transformation, diversifying product categories, expanding customer relationships, and optimizing logistics operations in synergy with Cycold. In April 2024, Yiallouros Eurofoods was acquired by Zorbas Group, where he remained as CEO and partner.
Today, Kolokasides leads ZK Foods, which collaborates with more than 70 international suppliers and offers over 1,000 products to around 800 customers in Cyprus and abroad.
Construction and Real Estate
Kyriaki Christodoulou – Group Finance Director – Pafilia Property Developers Ltd
Since joining Pafilia Property, Kyriaki Christodoulou has demonstrated exceptional leadership, managing a team of 10 finance professionals and driving substantial improvements in financial operations.
Christodoulou is a core member of the Leadership Team, actively shaping strategic decisions and long-term planning. She plays a pivotal role in one of the largest and most complex projects, with her vision, analytical mindset, and dedication helping strengthen Pafilia’s market position.
As Group Finance Director, Christodoulou leads financial strategy and ensures robust governance. She is a strong advocate for harnessing technology and business intelligence tools to modernize financial processes and support data-driven decision-making. Her initiatives have enhanced transparency, streamlined reporting, and created more meaningful insights across all business units, directly supporting sustainable growth and long-term success.
Trading and Manufacturing
Dr Panagiotis Charalambous – Environment and Sustainability Topics – Charalambides Christis Ltd
Dr Panagiotis Charalambous is responsible for the environmental management and operation of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) at Charalambides Christis Ltd, Cyprus’s leading dairy industry. His work focuses on ensuring full compliance with environmental legislation and standards, overseeing the efficient treatment of industrial wastewater, and promoting sustainable practices across all company operations. He plays a key role in monitoring environmental performance, developing and implementing programs that reduce emissions and waste generation, and ensuring that the company’s activities align with national and European sustainability objectives. In addition, he contributes to initiatives related to energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and circular economy practices, fostering a strong culture of environmental awareness and responsibility within the organization.
Combining advanced academic expertise with extensive industrial experience, Dr Charalambous is dedicated to strengthening the environmental performance of Charalambides Christis Ltd.
Technology
Tanya Romanyukha – General Manager – TechIsland
Tanya Romanyukha is a transformative leader whose work has redefined Cyprus’ position on the global tech map. Through two major initiatives; the scaling of TechIsland and the founding and leadership of Women in Tech Cyprus; she has made a lasting impact on the tech ecosystem and society at large.
As General Manager of TechIsland, Cyprus’ largest tech association, Romanyukha has driven the rapid expansion of a community that now boasts over 350 member companies, employing more than 20,000 people and contributing more than 8 billion annually to the country’s economy. Her leadership has been central to advancing strategic policy advocacy, helping shape a business environment that fosters innovation, attracts international talent, and supports the growth of tech enterprises.
Under Romanyukha’s direction, TechIsland has gone beyond being an industry association; it has become a catalyst for national economic transformation. She works closely with government officials to advocate for policies that benefit the tech sector, including tax reforms, digitalization initiatives, and talent visa programs.
Under Romanyukha’s leadership, Women in Tech Cyprus has become the country’s premier platform for female tech professionals. She launched the country’s first Women in STEM Forum, bringing together hundreds of leaders, policymakers, and changemakers to create momentum around gender inclusion in tech and science fields.
Services
Kikis Ioannou – Assistant Marketing Manager – Petrolina (Holdings) Public Limited
Kikis Lefkaritis Ioannou contributes to the strategic direction of the Petrolina’s brand, communications and digital development. He manages a range of marketing activities across Petrolina’s portfolio, supporting the visibility of energy-related services as well as selected strategic projects such as pcharge and the Land of Tomorrow, further reinforcing the company’s presence within the Cypriot energy sector.
He has been a driving force behind several of Petrolina’s digital initiatives. Under his leadership, the MyPetrolina app has grown into one of the most widely used loyalty platforms in Cyprus, with thousands of daily users engaging with branded products and services.
What makes his journey stand out is the impact he has achieved early in his career. While building on the legacy of his family business, he has demonstrated the ability to elevate tradition through modern marketing practices, technology and customer-focused thinking, contributing to Petrolina’s transition into a more modern, forward-looking organisation.
Financial Services
Leonid Bibin – Deputy Chief Financial Officer – Freedom24
With over a decade of experience in financial services, Leonid Bibin progressed from auditing major banks and asset management firms to leading financial operations as Deputy Financial Director. His Big Four background provided deep expertise in complex financial instruments, risk management, and international regulatory frameworks. At Freedom24, he leads teams across financial planning, reporting, and data analytics, having built key analytical capabilities from scratch while navigating explosive business growth. A chartered certified accountant fluent in four languages, Leonid combines traditional financial expertise with modern analytical approaches to transform data into strategic insights, ensuring operational excellence in fast-paced, regulated environments.
Shipping
Andreas Alvanis – Deputy CEO - Fameline Holding Group
As Deputy CEO of Fameline Holding Group, Andreas Alvanis has demonstrated a unique ability to combine strategic thinking with a dynamic, youthful approach, driving innovation across the organization. His commitment to fostering the next generation of industry leaders is evident through his active involvement in initiatives like the Fameline Offshore Sailing Regatta and his previous role on the board of YoungShip Cyprus. Alvanis was recently honored with the Young Leader Award at the YoungShip Cyprus Awards 2024, a testament to his dedication to mentorship, sustainability, and industry development. His professionalism, passion, and drive make him a truly deserving candidate for this prestigious recognition.
Professional Services
George Economides – Head Partner at E & G Economides LLC. and Vice-Chairman of Totalserve Management Ltd
George Economides was unable to attend the ceremony, so his award was accepted on his behalf by his wife.
George Economides is a lawyer and a member of prestigious organizations like the Cyprus Bar Association, the Private Client Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA), and the International Tax Planning Association (ITPA), but he also holds a significant position as a board member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) in Cyprus branch.
Economides has a special way of bringing people together and making everyone feel valued.
He’s not one to boast, but his guidance, support, openness, ideas and vision is what really helps our team plan, execute, and succeed. He knows how to tackle problems calmly, find solutions, and keep everybody focused. He wants to make things better for his team, his clients, the community, and, besides his myriad commitments, he dedicates special attention to his international clients, personally ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of care and expertise.
Gaming
Boris Burangulov – Executive Producer – MY.GAMES
Boris Burangulov began his journey at MY.GAMES as a product analyst at the Pixonic studio, working on War Robots – a fast-growing tactical PvP shooter with a strong reputation in the market.
As War Robots evolved, so did Burangulov’s responsibilities. Starting as an analyst, he went on to lead the product analytics team, and by 2021, he had taken charge of the entire game. You could say War Robots and Burangulov grew up together.
Under his leadership, the team achieved major milestones: over $1 billion in revenue, the launch of a dedicated version for the Chinese market, the successful delivery of countless features, and the navigation of more than a few crises.
Special Award Young Dragon Entrepreneur
Christopher Barnett, Christos Ellinas, Eleni Christofi, Neo Barnett & Peter Anders Hvass – Cyprus Comic Con
Christos Ellinas
Co-founder and Community Manager of Cyprus Comic Con, Christos Ellinas brings over a decade of expertise in community building, events management, and digital marketing. Skilled in social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Discord, he has been pivotal in growing Cyprus Comic Con’s online presence and real-world event success.
Helen Christofi
Helen Christofi co-founded Cyprus Comic Con and leads its event planning, logistics, and digital presence. A senior web developer and UI/UX specialist, she has developed and maintained the official Comic Con website and manages social media marketing campaigns.
Christopher Barnett
Co-founder and Sales Director, Christopher Barnett has over 20 years of experience in retail, distribution, and entertainment industries. He leads business planning and sales strategies for Cyprus Comic Con, growing it from a small event to one with over 300 vendors and 20,000 visitors.
Neo Barnett
Neo Barnett, co-founder and Creative Director, has nearly 20 years in graphic design, branding, and social media management. He shapes the visual identity of Cyprus Comic Con and coordinates marketing campaigns and event layouts.
Peter Anders Hvass
Peter Anders Hvass is a seasoned technology and event leader with 15+ years in software engineering, DevOps, business development, and event strategy. As Cyprus Comic Con co-founder, he expanded the event’s footprint and diversified its offerings to include wrestling, LARPing, and music festivals.
The event ended with food and drinks as well as music by DJ Vanesha, all celebrating the new Young Dragons.
The 2nd CBN Young Dragon Awards
Presenter: Cyta Business
Young Dragon Champion Sponsor: ECOMMBX
Supporters: Nespresso and Range Rover
Organizers: IMH and CBN
