THEA GIKAS
Godalming,Surrey
Summary
Degree-educated, skilled Executive Assistant with over 15 years of experience across multiple industries. An excellent all-rounder with a strong work ethic; I strive for excellence and hit the ground running. Exceptional at working autonomously and taking initiative, I have the skills to create more time for my stakeholders to focus on their priorities. A strong collaborator, I pride myself on having integrity, passion & purpose. Confidentiality and discretion are core values.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
15
15
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Executive assistant to HRD
Informa Markets Ltd
London
03.2024 - Current
- Calendar Management: Comprehensive meeting scheduling for smooth daily meetings across multiple time zones.
- Travel Management: Door to door travel & Visa arrangements; compliant with Informa Travel Policies.
- Approval Assistance: Streamlined and managed approvals across platforms (BSM/Oracle/Suti/EFS-SAP) on behalf of Executive.
- Team & Offsite Days: Managed logistics for 2 successful offsite events for HR Team.
- Informa Preferred Partner Program: Project assistance to Ivor Watters including meeting scheduling; onboarding of 34 Suppliers via contract creation on Coupa; creation of SharePoint files to manage supplier data and onboarding.
- IM Business Coaching: Qualified IM Business Coach
Executive Assistant to CTRO and HRD
Informa Markets (Ltd)
London
06.2022 - 03.2024
- Inbox Management: Full email and task management for CTRO.
- Calendar Management: Comprehensive meeting scheduling for smooth daily meetings across multiple time zones.
- Travel Management: Door to door travel & Visa arrangements; compliant with Informa Travel Policies.
- Approval Assistance: Streamlined and managed approvals across platforms (BSM/Oracle/Suti/EFS-SAP) on behalf of Executive.
- Team & Offsite Days: Managed logistics for successful offsite events for TrO team.
- Minute Taking: Attendance of meetings and circulation of minutes/action points.
- Holiday Approvals: Approve team holidays on behalf of the Executive.
Executive Assistant: Director of Group Programmes
Informa Plc
London
01.2022 - 06.2022
- GAP2 Project assistance: General assistance to Stefan Jennings on the GAP2 Programme.
- Meeting Scheduling: Assistance with scheduling of CIC meetings across divisions, ensuring time lines are adhered to.
- Invoice & Expense Management: Coding & approvals of invoices on SAP/Expense management on BSM.
- Travel & Visa Arrangements: Door to door travel, complying with Informa travel policies.
Executive Assistant to MD, CCO and Director
Informa Connect Ltd
London
10.2019 - 12.2021
- Diary Management: Experience across multiple time zones in a demanding & rapidly changing environment.
- Travel Arrangements: Assist Executives and teams with travel, complying with Company travel policies.
- Invoice & Expense Management: Coding & approvals of invoices on SAP/expense management on BSM.
- Holiday Cover for EA to CEO: Assisting with CEO’s diary and Monthly Board Report as needed.
- Ad Hoc Administration: Assisting with any administration needed (business and personal).
- Holiday Approvals: Approve team holidays on behalf of the Executives.
Personal Assistant to Director and HOD
Harrods Ltd
London
01.2019 - 10.2019
- Diary Management: meeting and conference call arrangements (with notetaking).
- Inbox Screening: Assisted Director with inbox email management; flagged urgent and confidential emails.
- Employee Onboarding: Set up and onboarding of new starters and leavers.
- Departmental Forms/Documents: maintaining org charts & documents via SharePoint/Google Docs and Visio.
- Team Days & Workshops: Arrangement of external team days and workshops.
- Confidentiality: Handling of confidential correspondence (salary increases, budget spending, internal promotions).
- Purchase Order & Invoice Management: SAP Invoice approval process from submission to sign-off.
- PowerPoint Presentations: creating monthly presentations for divisional team meetings.
Procurement Administrator to HOD and team
Harrods Ltd
London
08.2016 - 12.2018
- Diary Management: meeting arrangements, minute taking, booking of external conferences and calls.
- Expenses, PO approval and invoicing: completing the processes via SAP according to company policy.
- Management of Addison Lee Portfolio: New members, reports, database, and business liaison.
- Management of Reed and Mackay Portfolio:Admin liaison between business and TMC.
- Management of the Suppliers and Contracts databases: collate and keep records intact via Excel.
Personal Assistant to CEO and Executive Director
Thorburn Security Solutions (Pty) Ltd
South Africa
11.2008 - 05.2016
- Confidentiality: access to all personal information of the CEO (passwords, personal bank accounts).
- Personal Finance: Basic Pastel accounting and reconciliation.
- Personal Household Management: Assisted with the day-to-day running of the family smallholding & horses.
- Board Assistance: Meeting arrangements, circulating agendas & minutes, minute taking, catering arrangements.
- Diary & Inbox Management: managing the CEO’s diary and inbox management.
- Travel Management: Business and personal, all Visa, flights, hotels, door to door.
- People Management: Management of the support staff (Receptionist, company driver)
- Document Administration: Statutory, legal, financial liaison, and document management.
- Events: Arrangement of Office functions, off-site workshops, and birthdays.
Office Administrator
RE/MAX Oaktree Properties
South Africa
03.2003 - 10.2007
- Administrator to the Broker/owner, bookkeeper, and fourteen agents
- Managing Receptionist and supervision of the support staff.
- Arranging events, training, and other opportunities.
- Managing the web page & property database
Information Consultant
The V&A Waterfront (Pty) Ltd
South Africa: Cape Town
05.1997 - 02.1999
- Visitor’s Center services for tourists.
- Hotel & accommodation reservations for tourists.
Education
Mental Health First Aider - Mental Health
Mental Health First Aid England
London 07.2019 - 07.2019
Business Coaching Programme: Foundations - Coaching
The Institute of Leadership and Management
London 01.2022 - 11.2022
Diploma in Transformation Life Coaching - Coaching
ANIMAS
London 01.2020 - 12.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Health Services and Social Sciences: Psychological Counselling
University of South Africa
Cape Town 01.2004 - 12.2011
Higher National Diploma - Travel Practice and Tourism
Cape Technikon: School of Management (SA)
Cape Town 01.1994 - 12.1996
Skills
- Passionate and natural cheerleader
- Trusted and confidential ear
- Robust and positive can do attitude
- Thrive on change and highly flexible
- High emotional intelligence
- Proactive and adept at focusing on what Executives need
Affiliations
- Complicated Jigsaw puzzles.
- Good coffee / A glass of Chenin Blanc
Accomplishments
- Office Administrator of the Year - RE/MAX Oaktree Properties (Cape Town) (2006)
- Best Academic Performance in Co-operative training (Department of Public Relations and Tourism) (1996)
Languages
English
Fluent
Afrikaans
Native
Greek
Beginner
German
Beginner
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Executive assistant to HRD
Informa Markets Ltd
03.2024 - Current
Executive Assistant to CTRO and HRD
Informa Markets (Ltd)
06.2022 - 03.2024
Executive Assistant: Director of Group Programmes
Informa Plc
01.2022 - 06.2022
Business Coaching Programme: Foundations - Coaching
The Institute of Leadership and Management
01.2022 - 11.2022
Diploma in Transformation Life Coaching - Coaching
ANIMAS
01.2020 - 12.2022
Executive Assistant to MD, CCO and Director
Informa Connect Ltd
10.2019 - 12.2021
Mental Health First Aider - Mental Health
Mental Health First Aid England
07.2019 - 07.2019
Personal Assistant to Director and HOD
Harrods Ltd
01.2019 - 10.2019
Procurement Administrator to HOD and team
Harrods Ltd
08.2016 - 12.2018
Personal Assistant to CEO and Executive Director
Thorburn Security Solutions (Pty) Ltd
11.2008 - 05.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Health Services and Social Sciences: Psychological Counselling
University of South Africa
01.2004 - 12.2011
Office Administrator
RE/MAX Oaktree Properties
03.2003 - 10.2007
Information Consultant
The V&A Waterfront (Pty) Ltd
05.1997 - 02.1999
Higher National Diploma - Travel Practice and Tourism
Cape Technikon: School of Management (SA)
01.1994 - 12.1996
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