George Daskalakis Steps Down After 13 Years at the Helm of Stoiximan
George Daskalakis is stepping down as CEO of Stoiximan after 13 years, bringing an end to a tenure that saw the company grow from a startup into Greece’s dominant online betting brand and a key asset in OPAP’s gaming portfolio.
A Startup That Rewrote the Greek Market
Stoiximan was founded in Athens in 2012 by George Daskalakis and Dimitris Maris. With under €1 million in funding and just 20 employees, the company entered a competitive landscape dominated by legacy brands and international players. But Stoiximan quickly established itself as a serious force, especially in Greece and Cyprus, where it would eventually command over 50% market share.
A key turning point came in 2018 when OPAP, Greece’s largest gaming company, acquired a 36.75% stake in Stoiximan. That share increased to 84.49% by 2020, effectively placing the brand under OPAP’s control. Despite the acquisition, Daskalakis remained in charge, overseeing Stoiximan’s operations on a B2B basis within the Kaizen Gaming structure.
The OPAP deal allowed Kaizen Gaming to turn its attention to the international stage. While Stoiximan remained the flagship for Greece and Cyprus, Betano — Kaizen’s outward-looking brand — began its global ascent. Today, Betano is present in nearly 20 markets and is believed to be the market leader in Brazil.
This two-pronged approach — maintaining a stronghold at home while scaling globally — became a defining element of Kaizen Gaming’s success. Under Daskalakis’s leadership, the company’s reach grew without diluting the local impact of its brands.
Nikos Fligos to Take Over as CEO
Daskalakis’s replacement will be Nikos Fligos, who has served as Stoiximan’s managing director since November 2024. Fligos brings corporate experience from Philip Morris International and Coca-Cola Greece and previously held the role of commercial director for the broader Kaizen Gaming group.
His appointment continues a broader reshaping of Kaizen’s leadership. Earlier in 2025, the company promoted Konstantinos Diorelis to commercial director and brought in former OPAP executive George Vitorakis as finance director. Other key moves included Sofia Katsali taking over as head of HR and Spyros Gerou stepping in as head of operations.
Stoiximan’s profile today is a far cry from its early days. The company sponsors several of Greece’s top football clubs — including Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens and PAOK — and is the title sponsor of Cyprus’ top football league. Through Kaizen Gaming, it also holds partnerships with UEFA competitions such as the Europa League and Europa Conference League.
According to Daskalakis, Stoiximan now employs nearly 300 people, contributes hundreds of millions of euros in taxes annually, and plays a significant role in sports and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
In a farewell message posted on LinkedIn, Daskalakis reflected on his tenure: “Part of our agreement was that I would continue to lead the team for a period of time. Gradually this agreement became a relationship. Over the years I enjoyed the full trust of the board, for which I would like to sincerely thank them.”
He added: “It sounds strange that I won’t be part of this beautiful story anymore, but Stoiximan needs a fully focused leadership which I am not in a position to provide due to my Kaizen Gaming commitments. So today, after 13 years, I am proud to say that I am getting off the ship, leaving it in great shape.”