Dr. Constantin von ALVENSLEBEN
Board Member and President of FIAA elected on February 26th, 2020
Born in 1962 in Germany, Dr. Constantin with a Doctorate Degree in Law and with an Economics Specialization from the London School of Economics, is the CEO of Tirana International Airport in Albania. Dr. Constantin comes with a long experience in airports and aviation, but also in the property development industry. He became familiar with Albania and its business environment since his first position as CEO of TIA during 2005-2007, where he successfully managed the Start-up phase of the only Airport in Albania. Meanwhile, he has held various senior management positions in organizations, including HOCHTIEF Concessions and HOCHTIEF Airport, affiliates of the leading construction firm HOCHTIEF Group. He has also been the Chairman of the specialized T&L Aviation Consultancy and held management positions in property development groups in Germany from 2012 through early 2019.
Dr. Constantin is a highly experienced executive with a broad international career in airport development and management in CIS countries, Eastern Europe and the United States of America, etc. He has also managed major acquisition and bidding processes at international airports in India and Australia.
In September 2019, Dr. Constantin relocated in Albania to undertake a new challenge as CEO of Tirana International Airport SHPK, this time owned by the Chinese company ”China Everbright” which is based and listed in Hongkong.
He brings with him important experience in airports, infrastructure development and senior leadership credentials, as well as a wealth of experience working in international markets and managing large projects throughout his career. With this extensive background, proven leadership experience and familiarity with operations in Albania, he has a full picture of the business environment in the country and the critical emerging issues, and he is looking forward to dedicate and contribute to a fostering FIAA and stronger role in the business community.
Elvin GURI
Board Member of FIAA elected on February 26th, 2020
Mr. Elvin Guri is an investor and entrepreneur with a successful track record in financial services.
He is the Investor in Telekom Albania. Since 2012, Mr. Guri has invested selectively in financial services (consumer finance in Albania, risk management and non-performing loans in Bulgaria); telecoms (including a stake in Telekom Albania); and in establishing Empower Capital, a private equity investment platform focusing on South East Europe. He is currently CEO of River Styxx Capital, an investment and advisory firm that he has founded and controls, and EMP Invest Bulgaria, the investment manager for Empower Capital funds. Born and raised in Albania, he earned a BA cum laude in Applied Economics and History from the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) and an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford Said Business School. Having started his career with Price Waterhouse in Sofia, he spent more than five years with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), both in London and in Sofia.
Additionally, Mr. Guri actively supports several educational initiatives in Bulgaria and Albania, including AUBG (as a significant donor, Trustee and Chairman of the Finance and Property Committee), RIT/American University of Kosova, Teach for Bulgaria (“Zaedno v Chas”), Junior Achievement Bulgaria (significant donor), and Junior Achievement Albania (founding Board Member and donor). Mr. Guri is very much willing to join FIAA Board of Directors and bring his regional knowledge and support in the coming FIAA initiatives and help on further increasing the voice and role of the Association in the business environment.
Bledar SHELLA
Board Member of FIAA elected on February 26th, 2020
Bledar Shella is the CEO of OTP Bank of Albania, former Societe Generale Albania Bank. Now the bank is part of OTP Group, which is one of the largest independent financial services providers in Central and Eastern Europe with full range of banking services for private individuals and corporate clients. OTP Group comprise large subsidiaries with more than 13 million clients and over 1500 branches, granting services in the field of insurance, real estate, factoring, leasing and asset management, investment and pension funds.
Bledar Shella started his career in October 2000 at the Currency Reserve Administration, at the Monetary Operations Department of the Bank of Albania. In April 2004, he was appointed Deputy Director of Supervision Department and Director of Inspections in the same institution.
After an eight-year experience at the Bank of Albania, in July 2008 he joined Societe Generale Albania Bank (today OTP Bank) as Head of Risk Management Department. In March 2015 he was elected Deputy General Manager and Head of Retail Division.
He also has an academic experience, started in October 2000 as a Professor of Finance at the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana. From March 2013 to June 2014, was a Lecturer in Advanced Financial Analysis, part of the curriculum of the Master Program at the European University of Tirana.
As of December 2018 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Societe Generale Albania Bank.
He holds a degree in Finance and Accounting from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana, Albania and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) degree from the International Institute of Professionals, Charlottesville, USA. He is fluent in English, Italian and French.
Rigela GEGPRIFTI
Board Member of FIAA elected on June 1st, 2021
Rigela Gegprifti holds the position of Country Head of Devoll Hydropower Sh.A. and Statkraft Renewables Albania since June 2020. She was first employed by Devoll Hydropower in 2009 as Director for External Affairs and Business Administration. She left the company in 2012 for a role as Director for Knowledge and Relationship Management in Tirana International Airport, before she re-entered Statkraft the year after as Senior HR and Administration Manager.
Prior to joining Statkraft, Rigela held a number of positions in private and public sectors in Albania, including PA to the CEO at Tirana International Airport, as well as project and specialist roles at Ministry of Territory Adjustment & Tourism. Rigela holds a Bachelor’s degree for German languages and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
Rigela is a believer on FIAA’s fundations, as a reliable platform of communication among all relevant stakeholders, ensuring that challenges faced are clearly communicated and collectively addressed, in support to the business community.
Ante FRENS
Board Member of FIAA elected on June 1st, 2021
Ante Frens, A Dutchmen, was appointed as Country Chairman and General Manager of Shell in Albania in 2020 and is resident in Tirana.
He is a professional in the energy business who has worked for Shell in multiple locations spanning Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Malaysia in a variety of general management, project development, commercial and operational roles. His roles have been working across Shell’s businesses in Research, Upstream Exploration and Production and Integrated Gas LNG.
Prior to working for Shell, he got a PhD in Physics from the University of Leiden.
Bozhidar TODOROV
Board Member of FIAA elected on June 1st, 2021
Experienced Banking Executive successfully delivering business growth, leading organizational transformation, developing business applications and improving operations with more than 25 years of experience, major part in high level management.
Mr. Todorov is holding the position of Chief Executive Director at Fibank Albania since 15 October 2007, leading the bank through an important business development process, strategic planning and sustainable growth in the Albanian Banking market.
From August 2003 to October 2007 held the position of Director Impaired assets and provisioning at First Investment Bank in Bulgaria dealing with the management and valuation of credit exposures, financial conditions and performance of credit portfolio.
Mr. Todorov has been part of Albanian Association of Banks Supervisory Board for 6 years, since 2012 to 2018 giving his personal contribution to the association activities and board decision-making. He has been also member of Supervisory Board as Treasurer at FIAA from 2015 to 2019.
He is holding these positions urged by the ambition to influence in Albania through different actions that associations may take in order to have a positive impact in business growth and economic development.
He is Master in Finance graduated at Universitet za nacionalno i zvetovno stopanstvo in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Gasmen TOSKA
Board Member of FIAA elected on June 1st, 2021
Mr. Gasmen Toska is a successful and passionate Albanian-French entrepreneur, a long-standing member of FIAA, contributing with innovative ideas to the textile industry network within the organisation, and is an active member of several professional and social organizations in France and Albania.
Mr. Toska is present in the Albanian business life for more than 15 years, with the creation of the company Marlotex shpk.
Marlotex shpk in Berat (www.marlotex.com) operating in Textile Industry Production and Exporting, employing about 250 people in two modern plants. Its products are destined to the French and European markets. Marlotex operates in 6 different markets, with 6 different goods, a policy giving more resilience in times of crisis and more chances for development.
Marlotex has the best social practices in Albania and shows that it’s possible to export elaborated textile products from Albania in Europe.
It shows that Albania could be “the small China of Balkans” in the industry.
In addition, Mr. Toska is actively engaged in philanthropic and social responsibility activities in Albania and has established the foundation “Fondacioni G.Toska” in Berat, providing different humanitarian actions, supporting the Berat community needs, allocating of grants for students, cultural and environmental projects, developing exchanges between France and Albania, etc.
The foundation has opened the humanitarian restaurant “Porta e Hapur” which is serving about 14 000 meals every year for poor people. Another activity of the foundation is the financing support of the “Solomon Museum” in Berat telling the extraordinarily story of simple Albanians who saved thousands of Jewish people during the 2nd World War.
During the difficult pandemic time, they have donated about 100 000 masks to the various Albanian Institutions with a sale value of 500 000 euros.
Marinela JAZOJ, MBA
Executive Director of FIAA
Ms. Marinela Jazoj (Albanian) holds a Master Degree in Investment Management from University of Wales (London School of Business and Finance, UK). Since 2004, she is the Executive Director of the Foreign Investors Association in Albania (FIAA). During the last ten years she acts as a contact point for the International Investors aiming to know about Investment Opportunities in Albania. She is also active on the management of the Cross Border Economic Co-operations through EU funded projects.