Makers Award for Christos Asimakopoulus
Christos is an enthusiastic ambassador for Schaffhausen. His path led him from the metropolis of Athens to the village of Beringen – and he has no interest in leaving. Today, he’s actively involved as an ambassador for the local economy, to bring more businesses and their employees to the region.
Christos Asimakopoulos studied business and finance in Athens. His international career began in the pharmaceutical industry and brought him to Covidien, in Greece, in 2008, as Controller and Managing Director. During the worldwide economic recession, many Greek firms had to restructure – including Christos’s employer. “There was, unexpectedly, a job offer for me with Covidien in Schaffhausen. That was appealing, but it was a decision we had to make as a family,” says Christos, looking back on these life-altering changes. “So first we took a vacation in the Schaffahusen region.”
Once here, and never going back
The Asimakopoulos family seized the “Schaffhausen” chance and moved to Switzerland. Soon they’d found a new home in Beringen and their children were in school. Christos started with Covidien in Schaffhausen in 2012 in the finance department. In 2014, Covidien was acquired by Medtronic and Christos took over the finance department for Switzerland and Luxembourg. In 2020, he moved on - to another globally-focused company based in Schaffhausen, Advanced Sterilization Products. ASP is- the former medical technology division of Johnson & Johnson and, since 2019, part of the US-based Fortive Group. The industry is the same, the place of work just a few kilometers away.
HeChristos has been CFO in his new position for three years and remains committed to the region.
A persuasive emissary
Christos has become a strong advocate and ambassador for Schaffhausen. He is always available to provide information to companies interested in Schaffhausen. He meets with new managers and convinces them of Schaffhausen’s advantages. He is personally impressed by the business-friendly attitude and the close ties and openness that make it possible to work with the economic promotion agency and other authorities on an equal footing. And of course, he appreciates the proximity of the airport and the high quality of life in the entire Schaffhausen region.
Christos is proud of his “new” home and misses little here. The university could be a little closer so that his children – now Swiss – wouldn't have to travel so far for their education, he says with a smile. And sometimes it is difficult for partners of international employees to find suitable professional opportunities local. His wife currently commutes to Zurich to work. Nevertheless, Christos is an enthusiastic Schaffhauser.
Area for Makers Ambassador 2024
For over ten years, Christos Asimakopoulus has been engaged as an ambassador for Schaffhausen as a business location. He explains and promotes the advantages of Schaffhausen and also contributes new ideas. He received the "Area for Makers Ambassador" Award 2024 at the Business Leader Event in recognition of his current and future commitment to Schaffhausen’s economy.
