Abacus’ new partners Pavlina Yiannakou and Marios Andreou speak about their professional journeys

Newly appointed partners at Abacus, Pavlina Yiannakou and Marios Andreou, have revealed what excites them most about the professional chapter they are embarking on and what they hope to achieve in their elevated roles.

In an exclusive interview, Yiannakou and Andreou also talk about the professional journey that led them to their new positions.

In addition, the two new partners share their view on international client needs in a complex geopolitical and regulatory environment, while also discussing what sets Abacus apart within the global advisory and corporate services landscape.

Congratulations on your recent appointment as Partner. Can you tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to this point in your career?

Pavlina Yiannakou: Thank you. After graduating from the English School in Nicosia, I studied at London School of Economics and Political Sciences, UK, (LSE) and hold a BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance degree. My professional journey began at Deloitte in the assurance practice, where I spent seven years advising a wide range of private and listed companies across industries. During this time, I also qualified as a chartered accountant (ACA) under the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

In 2019, I joined Abacus’ international corporate services team, advising and supporting major groups from Europe, Asia, and the US, mainly in the tech, venture capital, and private equity sectors. This role deepened my knowhow and expertise when it comes to cross-border business and sharpened my focus on delivering solutions that meet the needs of fast-paced, globally minded businesses. Over the years, I’ve further enhanced my professional experience with deep knowledge of European and local regulation, which I also complemented with qualifications like the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) Advanced Certificate on financial and investment services. Being appointed Partner is both a milestone and a responsibility, one I embrace with energy and purpose.

Marios Andreou: Thank you and it’s a pleasure meeting you. It’s a real privilege to take on this new role within a firm I’ve been proud to grow with for nearly two decades. After graduating high school and finishing my military service, I left for the US where I studied at the University of Carbondale in Illinois and obtained a BSc in Accounting. While working for a boutique consulting firm in the US, I also qualified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and became an accredited member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

My background spans business advisory and corporate services, and I've had the opportunity to support clients ranging from major multinationals, Fortune 500 companies to mid-market specialist enterprises across the US, Canada, and the Middle East. My core focus has been private equity, FinTech, and infrastructure, sectors where tailored, strategic advice as well as quality back-office support makes a measurable difference. What has brought me to this point is a deep commitment to genuine client relationships, a strong commercial instinct, and the opportunity to work with visionary leaders and an exceptional team of people at Abacus.

What excites you most about this new chapter with the firm?

PY: This firm embodies everything I value in an employer, and that’s what inspired me to fully commit to it. An organisation I’m deeply proud to now call my permanent home. What first drew me in and continues to drive me, is the firm’s unwavering integrity, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. But equally important is the culture: high-performance but at the same time profoundly human, with a strong emphasis on character and collaboration.

What truly made me fall in love with this firm was its authentic, human approach. There is a deep sense of genuine care, humility and class in every interaction with clients, partners, associates, and other stakeholders in our ecosystem. That level of attentiveness and purpose is rare, and it’s something I am deeply aligned with.

I’m especially excited to be stepping into this role at such a dynamic moment for the firm, on the heels of a significant reorganisation, our expansion into London and Athens, and as we continue growing our global presence. Being part of a firm that advises some of the world’s most innovative, forward-thinking, and influential organisations is not only inspiring, it’s a privilege. It motivates me every day to grow as a professional and as a person.

I am fully committed to delivering exceptional value to our clients, but also to investing in our people. I want to give back to the firm and to the teams I lead the same kind of mentorship, empowerment, and growth opportunities that I’ve received since joining, an experience that has truly transformed my life.

MA: What excites me most is the firm’s forward momentum and clarity of vision. After its spinoff from a big four firm, Abacus started as a local boutique advisory and corporate services firm. Today, the firm plays in the same arena as the biggest names in our industry, while maintaining the independence, high-performance yet human culture, and client-first ethos that set it apart. We’re advising clients who are shaping the world such as major multinationals, private equity houses, venture capital groups, innovators, successful entrepreneurs and we’re doing it through a model that values deep expertise and strong relationships over volume and cookie cutter solutions. At this stage in my career, being part of a leadership group that is both visionary and grounded is exactly where I want to be.

One of the things I value most about our firm is how quietly excellent and humble we are. We’re not about headlines, hype, or chasing PR—we focus on substance. Our approach is deeply personal and relationship-driven, built on trust, integrity, and a genuine desire to create value for our clients and partners. Our success comes from the impact we make and the long-term value we deliver. That mindset of contribution over self-interest is deeply embedded in our culture, and it’s what inspires me every day.

It’s a beautiful thing to come to the office every day with a sense of purpose and pride. We show up not just to do excellent work, but to be part of something meaningful. To stand among the best and serve some of the world’s most respected organisations and individuals with humility, excellence, and care.

In today’s complex geopolitical and regulatory environment, what do international clients need most from their advisors?

PY: In this fast-changing global environment, what international clients need most is clarity, confidence, and truly strategic partnership. The landscape is increasingly shaped by geopolitical volatility, shifting regulations, new technologies, rising compliance burdens, and heightened expectations around transparency, responsible business conduct, and environmental accountability. In this context, clients cannot afford generic, one-size-fits-all solutions.

What they need is proactive, highly engaged advisors who anticipate change rather than simply reacting to it. They need partners who can translate complexity into clear direction, and regulatory shifts into strategic advantage. This requires not only deep technical knowledge and regulatory expertise, but also a commercial mindset and a nuanced understanding of their business, industry, and unique priorities.

What clients don’t need is advice from corporate machines, impersonal, mass-produced, and devoid of insight. They need substance. They need advisors who bring foresight, customisation, and real commercial judgement to the table. At our firm, we are uniquely positioned to offer exactly that. We combine technical excellence with business instinct. We don’t just solve problems, we help clients navigate uncertainty with confidence, seize emerging opportunities, and move forward with purpose.

MA: Above all, clients need trust and perspective. They want advisors who are not only technically strong, but also attuned to the broader forces shaping markets, whether that’s regulatory reform, geopolitical risk, or digital disruption. At Abacus, we bring a global lens with local precision. We support clients through high-stakes decisions, be it entering a new market, restructuring for efficiency, fund raising, or managing cross-border compliance, while staying proactive, practical, and highly responsive. Our role is to bring calm, clarity, and creativity to the table when it matters most.

What would you say distinguishes your firm in the global advisory and corporate services landscape?

PY: It’s the ability to stay truly client-centric while operating at an international level. Abacus delivers the breadth of expertise you’d expect from a much larger firm, but without the layers of complexity that often slow things down. We’re agile, partner-led, and deeply invested in our clients’ success. That means tailoring solutions, not templating them. Whether we’re advising a Fortune 500, a fast-scaling fund, or a founder-led business, we build strategies that are technically robust and commercially sound. It’s a rare balance and one I’m proud to be part of.

MA: What sets Abacus apart is the combination of independence and global reach. We’re not part of a multinational conglomerate, we’ve chosen to stay agile, focused, and values driven. And yet, we’re trusted by some of the world’s most sophisticated clients to manage complex, cross-border matters. That’s because we lead with substance. Our people are experts. Our advice is strategic and actionable. And our relationships are built to last. In a landscape where trust, insight, and execution matter more than ever, Abacus continues to prove that boutique can mean world-class.

What is your vision for your role as Partner, and where do you hope to make the greatest impact?

PY: My vision is to continue building bridges between geographies, sectors, and disciplines, to deliver integrated solutions that create real, measurable value for our clients. I hope to deepen our footprint in high-growth sectors and further strengthen our firm’s capabilities. Long-term impact, for me, is about enabling both client success and team development.

As a woman in a leadership role, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to support and inspire the next generation, especially young women who are ambitious, career-driven, or navigating the challenges of motherhood. I want to be a role model who shows them that with determination, character, and the right support, they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

I’m incredibly proud to be part of a firm where over 70% of our people are women, and where many of us, including members of the leadership and management teams, are also working mothers. This speaks volumes about the inclusive and diverse culture we’ve built. Our team brings together people of different nationalities, backgrounds, and experiences, and what unites us is a shared commitment to excellence, integrity, and mutual respect.

Our culture is not just supportive, it’s empowering. It’s built on merit, performance, and character. And as a partner, I want to continue contributing to the enhancement of this culture, to ensure that every individual here, regardless of gender or background, feels seen, valued, and able to thrive. That’s the kind of firm I’m proud to help lead.

MA: At this stage of my career, I see my role as both a strategic advisor and a connector. I want to help drive the firm’s growth in key markets, especially where cross-border complexity and regulatory nuance create real advisory demand. I also want to focus on nurturing client relationships that go beyond transactions; partnerships built on trust, insight, and long-term thinking. Within the firm, I’m committed to helping shape the next generation of leadership by sharing the lessons I’ve learned over the past two decades. Sustained impact comes from multiplying value - both for clients and for colleagues.