“There’s Nothing More Stable than Change”: 10 on the Weekend with Demetris Demetriades

10 On The Weekend is a weekly (-ish) feature in IMI, the concept of which is simple: Each time, we ask the same ten questions of a different IMI Pro, letting readers get to know the interviewee on a more personal and informal level than they might during the ordinary course of business.

Our guest this week is Demetris Demetriades, Managing Partner at Andreas Demetriades & Co.

How do you spend your weekends?

My family always comes first. Any free time I get, I try to spend it with them. Even now, my mother still cooks lunch for everyone, and it gives us a reason to sit around the table and catch up. She even texts me during the day to tell me what she’s made, so I make sure I’m there!

I also love being near the sea, it helps me relax and recharge. Despite my busy schedule, I try to stay active. I really believe in the saying “a healthy mind in a healthy body.” Water sports and spending time in nature are some of my favourite ways to unwind.

What are your top three business goals this year?

First, we want to make better use of new digital tools, including those that use AI, to work more efficiently, respond faster to our clients, and stay well-organized.

Second, we’re looking to grow beyond Cyprus by reaching out to new international markets and building strong relationships with clients abroad.

Third, we’re focusing a lot on developing our team so we can continue to offer high-quality, reliable legal support. For me, our people are our biggest strength, and investing in them is a top priority.

What’s your biggest business concern right now?

One of the biggest challenges is keeping up with an ever-changing regulatory landscape. We have to react quickly while still maintaining top-quality and dependable work.

 In this industry, if you fall behind, you lose. As I often say to friends and colleagues, “there’s nothing more stable than change.”

Which book is on your nightstand right now?

I am currently reading Peter Drucker’s Management, as well as Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, which helps bring me back to the basics: Ethical leadership, self-discipline, and the importance of acting with a clear conscience and integrity in a world full of changes and uncertainty.

How and when did you first get into the investment migration industry?

It all began when one of the largest companies in the investor migration field approached our firm, recognizing, as they explained to us, our history, our professional reputation, and the quality and reliability of our services. 

They had done their research on the Cypriot market and their decision to work with us was, for us, both an honour and a responsibility.

What was your proudest moment as a service provider?

Every time a client places their trust in us to deliver solutions, it is a moment of pride. These are the moments that give both me and my team the motivation and strength to continue with passion and the goal of reaching ever-higher standards.

Which investment migration market development has surprised you the most in the last year?

What’s surprised me most is how quickly things are changing in the investment migration world. We’re moving away from citizenship-by-investment schemes and toward better-structured residency programmes, especially because of growing pressure from bodies like the European Commission. 

What really stands out is the shift from a simple transaction-based approach to one that sees investors as long-term partners in a country’s growth. This new way of thinking asks all of us, professionals and governments, to act more responsibly. And I believe it’s a change that will help make our field more solid and trustworthy in the long run.

Trump’s “Gold Card” to US Citizenship for 5 million USD has also come as a surprise to me, and I am interested to see how that will play out in the long run!

If you could go ten years back in time, what business decision would you change?

If I could go back in time, I would avoid our firm’s involvement in the initial form of the Cyprus Citizenship by Investment Program. That program, as publicly acknowledged later by the then Minister of Interior, had substantial weaknesses, shortcomings, and flaws in its original structure.

Unfortunately, many service providers found themselves exposed in a regulatory framework that was uncertain and insufficient, and as a result, design shortcomings were unfairly passed on to others. The state itself recognised the need for a fundamental reform, but not without cost to those of us who had operated in good faith.

Still, every such experience is a learning opportunity that makes us better, both as professionals and as individuals.

What investment migration industry personality do you most admire?

I admire those individuals who possess vision, willpower, and the ability to inspire through their integrity and work. 

People who lead by example and who contribute meaningfully to the progress of our sector.

If all goes according to plan, what will you be doing five years from now?

I still feel motivated to give my best to my firm, to the industry, and to my country. Every challenge is a chance to grow, and I’m committed to building on what we’ve started and supporting the great team around me.