Karolos Travassaros

Karolos Travassaros is the Chief Portfolio Officer at the Emirates Growth Fund (EGF), the AED 1 billion federal growth equity platform dedicated to scaling high-potential SMEs and accelerating industrial growth in the UAE. He oversees EGF’s strategy, portfolio and value creation functions, partnering with founders and CEOs to drive growth, strategic expansion, operational excellence and long-term competitiveness, while ensuring alignment with national priorities.

Previously, Karolos served as Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer and Advisor to the Chairman of the Emirates Development Bank (EDB), where he led the institution’s transformation and repositioning as the UAE’s financial enabler for industrial development. With more than two decades of international experience across finance, strategic advisory and investments he has held senior roles as Advisor to the ADNOC CEO, Boston Consulting Group, Deutsche Bank and Rothschild & Co. Through his senior leadership roles he is recognized for directing substantial investment mandates and shaping strategies for economic and industrial growth.