Originally from Greece, he attended high school in Toronto and then went to Boston for a bachelor’s degree in science from Babson College. He then moved to Spain, where he worked in the sales field. A few years later, he obtained an MBA from ESADE in Barcelona. It was during this time that one of his professors inspired him to join the telecom industry. He joined Oliver Wyman, a global management consulting firm. During this stint, he got the opportunity to undertake an assignment for Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL). It was fortuitous – at the end of the assignment, he was asked to stay on with the company.

Hionides had no difficulty adjusting at SSTL. He had worked with various start-ups earlier and was well equipped to steer SSTL on the growth path. “I have worked with six different start-ups, helping them build their businesses from ground up. Similarly, at SSTL, I have witnessed the company growing from the start-up phase to a mature one. It has been an interesting journey,” he notes.

Today, as head of partnership management at SSTL, Hionides is primarily responsible for forging strategic alliances in the company’s key business areas. “As a strategy consultant, I worked on various types of analysis and all the documentation provided to our clients was thorough and adhered to strict quality standards. At SSTL, I continue to do the same by leveraging my strong analytical skills,” he says.

To achieve his targets, he banks on his prior work experience, coupled with an open door policy. “Both formal and informal meetings happen in my office on a continual basis.” He also believes in and attempts to bring out the best in each member of his team. “The idea is to create a positive and healthy work environment without compromising on the quality of work.”

Going forward, he expects the telecom market to be flooded with a host of data-centric products and services. “The Indian telecom market is constantly changing and one is periodically faced with new challenges. In the near future, we can expect to see more innovative products and partnerships being launched, especially in the data segment. The boom in smartphone sales will also stimulate data growth, leading to an overall increase in internet reach,” he comments.