Venetia Koussia

Executive Director

Council on Competitiveness of Greece

During her longstanding career, Dr Venetia Koussia has acquired senior management positions in companies of various industry sectors, leading them through highly volatile market conditions and emerging socio-economic challenges by designing and implementing socially responsible growth strategies.

 As the President and Managing Director of ManpowerGroup Greece for more than 14 years, the world’s leader in innovative workforce solutions, she has solidified the company’s reputation in Greece by turning it into a valuable partner for both public and private companies and organizations. 

Since November 2018 she is the Executive Director of the Council on Competitiveness in Greece – CompeteGR.

Moreover, through innovative collaborations with the E.U., she has contributed in developing new successful tools for employment and entrepreneurship. 

Having an active role in employment issues on a national, European and an international level and through her dynamic engagement in esteemed institutions, such as the BoD and the Employment Committee of the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce she plays a leading role in the development and implementation of initiatives, that aim to improve the competitiveness of the Greek economy:

• The improvement of the efficiency of the Greek labor market. 

–        The strengthening of an innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

• The enhancement of Boards’ effectiveness for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Believing in the power of the good example she devotes some dozens of hours annually from her personal time in assisting people to unleash their potential and overcome stereotypes. 

Advocate of Lifelong Learning in February 2017 she got the Financial Times Diploma for Non-Executive Directors being among the first few certified NEDs in Greece.

She holds a Ph.D. in Corporate Strategic Planning in the Financial Services and an M. Phil. in Agricultural Marketing and Market Research, both from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Her first degree (B.Sc.) is in Business Administration from the American College of Greece.

She has been recently appointed as a member of the Board of the Climate Governance Initiative – Greece (a global initiative under the leadership of WEF).

She is a proud mother of two children.