Aristoteles Zervopoulos
Senior Compliance & Financial Crimes Leader
Pickering,ON
Summary
A visionary leader with 18+ years of experience in compliance, operational risk, and regulatory strategy within financial services. Expert in designing and leading enterprise-wide risk management programs, engaging with regulators, and spearheading change management initiatives. A strategic thinker with a proven ability to build and execute compliance frameworks that mitigate financial and reputational risks while fostering a strong governance culture.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
5
5
Certifications
2
2
Languages
Work History
Senior Risk Manager, ESG Advisory
Export Development Canada
04.2021 - Current
- Lead enhanced due diligence portfolio management for large segment ($300M+ revenue), ensuring alignment with regulatory and operational risk requirements
- Investigated high-profile corruption, sanctions, money laundering and war crimes cases, leading to customized relationship approaches and strategic de-risking where necessary.
- Developed and delivered thought leadership that strengthened governance and compliance strategies across ESG cross-functional teams
Associate Manager, Global Compliance
Great West LifeCo.
02.2019 - 03.2021
- Designed and led the execution of capabilities for the Global Compliance Framework (GCF), mitigating regulatory risk exposure and potential fines exceeding $250M
- Directed the Global Risk Assessment process, streamlining compliance oversight and strengthening risk mitigation strategies across multiple jurisdictions
- Led change management initiatives that enhanced compliance training programs, reducing the compliance risk assessment cycle by three months and increasing efficiency across teams
Manager, Compliance Program Management Office
OLG
07.2016 - 01.2019
- Established and led the execution of capabilities for the Enterprise Compliance Framework, setting regulatory governance structures that protected the organization from fines up to $10M
- Spearheaded the implementation of governance, risk, and compliance systems, optimizing compliance monitoring and reporting processes
- Championed enterprise-wide risk and compliance initiatives, integrating strategic reporting mechanisms that provided leadership with actionable insights
Faculty, Continuing Education
Humber College Institute Of Technology & Advanced Learning
08.2016 - 12.2017
- Taught financial crimes principles including, detection, analysis, investigation, mitigation & reporting of fraud and money laundering
- Prepared lesson plans and delivered the Introduction to Fraud Examination course, as part of the Certified Fraud Examiner preparatory program
- Provided coaching and generating discussion on approaches, strategy and execution of fraud examinations
Manager, Regulatory Affairs
OLG
08.2015 - 07.2016
- Led regulatory strategy execution, engaging with regulators and providing compliance advisory for high-risk operations transitioning to private service providers
- Developed regulatory change management initiatives, ensuring compliance with evolving legislative requirements
- Identified and remediated 13 critical regulatory compliance issues within six months, strengthening operational risk management
Anti-Money Laundering Analyst
Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG)
10.2013 - 08.2015
- Designed and implemented high-risk patron monitoring programs, enhancing enterprise-wide AML capabilities and supporting law enforcement and FINTRAC investigations
- Provided strategic advisory on AML program improvements, eliminating regulatory audit findings within six months
- Led AML training and awareness initiatives, increasing Suspicious Transaction reporting by 11% year over year
Education
Business – Information Systems Diploma -
Centennial College
Skills
Regulatory Compliance & Risk Oversight
Enterprise Risk Management Strategy
Anti-Money Laundering & Sanctions
Financial Crimes Prevention
Corporate Governance & Policy Leadership
Program & Change Management
Executive Stakeholder Engagement
MS Office 365, SharePoint, Visio, Co-Pilot
Regulatory Compliance Tools (RepRisk, DJRC/Factiva, Resolver GRC, World Check)
Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Systems
Education And Certifications
- Chartered Global Sanctions Compliance Leader (CGSCL)
- Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional - International (CCEP-I)
- Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)
- Regulatory Compliance Officers – Manager Program
- Change Management Registered Practitioner (CMP)
- Business – Information Systems Diploma, Centennial College
Professional Highlights
- Speaker - Government Contracting Compliance & Ethics Conference - Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics
- Speaker - Business Ethics - Organization of Women in International Trade
- 2X Featured in Company-Wide Customer Impact Stories - EDC
- 4X Recognized for 100% Customer Experience Score - EDC
- Experienced and Effective People Leader - Departments from two to 53 direct and indirect staff - OLG to EDC
- Sector Specialization: Global Partnerships, Information Technology & Telecommunications, Oil & Gas, Mining, Agri-Food, Cleantech, Insurance, Gaming and Gambling
- Sector Experience: Surface Transportation & Aerospace (including Military), Advanced Manufacturing, Forestry, Investments
- Geographic Specialization: Canada, Latin America, Africa (North & Sub-Sharan)
- Geographic Experience: US, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Oceania
Accomplishments
- De-risked $1.5M in insurance exposure relating to war crimes and money laundering between policy holder and state-owned entities in Indo-Pacific Region
- Prevented the issuance of $130M financing support for a potential agri-food transaction with fraud, bribery, non-compliance and licensing risks.
- Led change management initiatives that enhanced compliance training programs, reducing the compliance risk assessment cycle by three (3) months and increasing efficiency across teams.
- Led business implementation for GRC system and delivered $326.5K project four weeks early and $14.5K under budget.
- Identified and remediated 13 critical regulatory compliance issues within six months overseeing third-party management of casino gaming providers
Certification
Chartered Global Sanctions Compliance Leader (CGSCL)
Timeline
Senior Risk Manager, ESG Advisory
Export Development Canada
04.2021 - Current
Associate Manager, Global Compliance
Great West LifeCo.
02.2019 - 03.2021
Faculty, Continuing Education
Humber College Institute Of Technology & Advanced Learning
08.2016 - 12.2017
Manager, Compliance Program Management Office
OLG
07.2016 - 01.2019
Manager, Regulatory Affairs
OLG
08.2015 - 07.2016
Anti-Money Laundering Analyst
Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG)
10.2013 - 08.2015
Business – Information Systems Diploma -
Centennial College