The 5th Hellenic Association of Treasurers International Treasury Summit in September served as affirmation of the growth of corporate treasury in Greece.
“HAT has become much more than a professional circle. It now stands as the statutory voice of treasury in Greece, officially representing the profession and placing it firmly on the global stage,” Yannis Lefas, FCT, Vice President, Hellenic Association of Treasurers tells Treasury Today Group.
He says that treasury in Greece is no longer a hidden discipline, working quietly behind the scenes. It is a driving force for resilience, credibility and growth in a shift embodied by HAT.
Beyond connecting professionals, the Association engages directly with regulators, ministries and the central bank, while shaping curricula and research through close collaboration with universities. This dual role ensures that treasury is recognised not just as a technical function but as a profession with strategic influence over Greece’s economic future.
For example, for the first time, representatives from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR), the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA), the Shipping Deputy Minister of the Republic of Cyprus and the Bank of Greece sat alongside international investors, rating agencies, corporates and academics to address the future of finance. Their participation confirmed that treasury in Greece is now a recognised pillar of policy dialogue and international market engagement.
But Lefas says the vision goes further too.
HAT is committed to inspiring young people to pursue careers in treasury, showing them that this path offers global opportunities, analytical depth and real influence. At the same time, the Association calls on Greek companies to strengthen their treasury functions, understanding that modern treasury is not a cost centre but a source of competitive advantage. And to international corporations, HAT sends a clear signal: Greece is a place where treasury talent and expertise thrive, and where global treasury capital can find a strong base.
“Trust, liquidity and stability are the lifeblood of business. By serving as the statutory representative of treasury, HAT elevates both the profession and the country. Greek treasurers are now part of the global conversation on sustainable finance, digital transformation and capital markets, standing alongside peers from Europe and beyond,” he says.
Alongside enabling networking, HAT also supports recognition, authority and influence. It is about giving treasurers in Greece a formal voice that carries weight with institutions and investors alike. Above all, it is about building a profession that supports businesses, strengthens the economy and enhances Greece’s credibility in the world.
Lefas concludes by likening HAT to a five-year-old child – the age when children are just starting school and showing their first real sparks of potential. “If so much has been achieved in these early years, imagine what lies ahead as the Association matures. The profession, Greek businesses and the wider economy should expect even more as HAT grows stronger with age,” he says.