NEW YORK. The Hellenic American Bankers Association (HABA), honoured Dr. Maria Vassalou, Partner and Portfolio Manager at Perella Weinberg Partners, as its 2016 Executive of the Year on Wednesday June 8th at the Union League Club on Park Avenue.

The event coincided with the historic occasion of the designation of Hillary Clinton as the first female presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.  It was also the first time HABA honored a woman in its 34 years of action.

In attendance at the award presentation, besides HABA President Demetri Papacostas, were former HABA president Costas Kellas, John Catsimatidis and James Orphanides, HABA Vice President Fanny Trataros, as well as the 2015 Executive of the Year honoree Michael Tadross.

Dr. Vassalou’s speech was very moving, as she spoke in depth about her family’s flight from Constantinople in 1964, and their relocation to Athens, where her father to the best of his efforts succeeded in inspiring his children by way of his example, passing on to them the determination and passion in whatever they do, and resilience.

In an exclusive interview for The National Herald, Dr. Vassalou expressed her emotions on being honored as Executive of the Year. «I am grateful,” she stated, “to the Bankers Association as well as to everyone who honored me with their presence.” In response to our comment that her reference to the living example of her father is an important lesson for the younger generation, members of which were present at the ceremony, Dr. Vassalou stated, “We the Greeks have great strength within us and we have been through a lot as a country and as a nation, and we have always managed to overcome the hardships, and now the country is once again going through a difficult period and we must draw examples from history and from the teachings of our fathers and grandfathers in order to overcome the difficulties and to build a better future for the children of Greece.”