Stefanos Kasselakis has appointed new administrative officials to key leadership positions within his Democrats party as part of an organizational restructuring, the political group announced.
The appointments place sales professional Giorgos Maliaris in the post of party director, while disability rights advocate Maria Choimpou becomes deputy director. Dr Christos Chronis, a vascular surgeon based in Crete, takes over as general secretary to oversee organizational coordination.
Dr Chronis replaces Vasilis Simos, who has taken on duties as the chief press spokesperson for the Democrats. According to the party, the personnel changes are intended to support organizational restructuring and strengthen the operational capacity of the political movement.
Sales veteran named party director
Giorgos Maliaris takes up the duties of director with nearly 30 years of professional experience in commercial sales. His career has centered on team organization, business management and workplace collaboration.
Outside his commercial career, Maliaris competes in athletic events, including the Marathon. He has also maintained an active role in local civic affairs in Piraeus, Greece's largest port city located southwest of Athens in the Attica region, where he previously ran as a candidate for district councillor in the First Municipal District.
His political background includes organizational roles dating back to his time in Syriza, the left wing political party that governed Greece between 2015 and 2019. During his period with Syriza, Maliaris served as deputy coordinator of the First Members' Organization of Piraeus.
During the initial phase of Kasselakis's movement, Maliaris served on the Provisional Secretariat of the Initiative Groups, where he coordinated the First District of Piraeus. After party members voted on the initial party charter, he was elected to the National Council, representing the Regional Organization of Piraeus and Islands.
Within the Democrats organization, Maliaris has held several elected posts. These include coordinator of the First District local organization in Piraeus, coordinator of the Piraeus and Islands regional coordination committee, member of the Attica regional coordination body, and member of the Executive Office.
The party stated that his extensive professional career and political record, combined with his detailed knowledge of internal party operations, serve as vital assets for his new administrative duties.
Disability rights campaigner appointed deputy
Maria Choimpou assumes the role of deputy director after years of civil society work focused on disability rights. She has been active in disability advocacy since 2017, working on social inclusion and community representation.
Choimpou created and manages an online community with more than 43,000 members. She also served for four years as plenipotentiary general secretary and later as vice president of a nationwide Greek association representing people with disabilities.
In her new leadership position, Choimpou takes responsibility for maintaining the party membership register, directing services for members and local party organizations, and overseeing administrative operations. The Democrats said her experience in coordinating collective campaigns, participating in institutional dialogue and engaging with a large public community provides essential skills for the post.
Vascular surgeon takes general secretary post
Dr Christos Chronis has taken office as general secretary, with responsibility for coordinating organizational operations and ensuring cooperation between the party's various governing bodies.
Chronis is a medical doctor and vascular surgeon who holds medical and Master of Science degrees. He is a member of the medical staff at the University General Hospital of Heraklion, known as PAGNI, which serves as the premier academic hospital and tertiary care center on the island of Crete.
His professional work focuses on vascular surgery and modern medical practice, while his political work centers on public healthcare, social policy and institutional governance.
Within the party, Chronis previously served as head of the health sector and as coordinator of the thematic group on health and welfare. He is also a member of the political programme committee, where he contributed to drafting the party's official policy platforms.
Chronis stated that he believes in a modern political culture based on cooperation, transparency and political civility, focused directly on citizens and the practical needs of society.
Party restructuring under Stefanos Kasselakis
The administrative restructuring comes as Kasselakis establishes the institutional foundation of the Democrats following his exit from Syriza. Kasselakis, a businessman and former shipping entrepreneur, was elected leader of Syriza in September 2023 before departing the left wing opposition party following extensive internal disputes to establish the Democrats.
The reorganization brings together figures from healthcare, corporate sales and civil society advocacy into key administrative roles. By placing experienced organizers across the party secretariat and the press office, the party aims to solidify its internal structure across Greece.
