Dimitris Michalakis

Dimitris Michalakis is a Greek media and telecommunications executive whose career has been closely connected with the development of pay television, streaming and original content in Greece. He joined the OTE Group in 2002, initially working in international marketing roles, after beginning his career at Philip Morris Hellas and later working at Telestet. In March 2012, he joined COSMOTE TV as Commercial Director and went on to become Executive Director of the COSMOTE TV Business Unit in 2013.During his leadership at COSMOTE TV, Michalakis played a central role in the platform’s transformation and expansion, with a strong focus on premium entertainment, original Greek productions and the transition towards streaming. His tenure coincided with a period of significant investment in locally produced fiction, documentaries and original programming, helping establish COSMOTE TV as an increasingly important producer and commissioner of Greek audiovisual content.One of the most distinctive projects developed during this period was COSMOTE HISTORY, the documentary channel dedicated to Greek history, culture and heritage. Launched in 2016, the channel became a major original-content initiative, producing hundreds of documentaries and building an extensive catalogue of Greek historical and cultural programming. Michalakis has spoken about the importance of the project in supporting Greek documentary production and bringing stories of Greece’s history and heritage to a wider audience.The same strategy extended into scripted fiction. Under Michalakis’ leadership, COSMOTE TV invested heavily in original drama series and collaborations with Greek filmmakers, writers and production companies. Among the productions associated with this period are The Other Me (Έτερος Εγώ), 42°C, 17 Threads (17 Κλωστές) and other original television projects. The development of scripted content became an important part of COSMOTE TV’s identity and helped strengthen its position as a producer and commissioner of premium Greek television.Michalakis has also been involved in major strategic content partnerships during his time at OTE. COSMOTE TV expanded its offering through agreements with international services and broadcasters, including the integration of Netflix into selected COSMOTE TV subscription packages and the availability of Nova Sports channels on the platform. These partnerships formed part of the broader evolution of the service from traditional pay television towards a more comprehensive streaming and entertainment platform.His involvement with original production has continued beyond his former executive leadership of COSMOTE TV. Among his recent credits is Rififi, the six-episode drama and heist series inspired by the infamous 1992 Athens bank robbery. Produced by COSMOTE TV and executed by Tanweer Productions, the series was produced by Dionysis Samiotis, with Michalakis serving as Executive Producer alongside Faye Tsitsipi.In January 2025, Michalakis moved into a broader executive position within the OTE Group. He currently serves as Chief of Corporate Communications, Sustainability & Channel Productions, with responsibility that includes the group’s Channel Productions and content production activities. His role therefore extends beyond COSMOTE TV itself, covering a broader area of content, broadcasting, corporate communications and sustainability within the OTE Group.His producing credits also include major Greek projects such as Stelios (2024), the biographical film about legendary Greek singer Stelios Kazantzidis, on which he served as an Executive Producer.Following the rebranding of COSMOTE TV as Magenta TV in September 2026, Michalakis remains part of the OTE Group and continues to be associated with its content and production activities. His current position reflects the broader evolution of his career from television commercial strategy and platform management to executive oversight of content production and communications.Across more than two decades at OTE, Dimitris Michalakis has been closely associated with the evolution of Greek pay television, the transition towards streaming and the development of original Greek productions. His work has connected the strategic and business side of television with investment in local stories, filmmakers and production talent, contributing to the growth of Greek original content during the modern streaming era.