Leadership 100 Names Fr. Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos as New Executive Director

The Rev. Protopresbyter Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos. Photo: Leadership 100

NEW YORK — The Executive Committee of Leadership 100 has elected the Rev. Protopresbyter Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos as the organization’s next Executive Director with the consensus of the Board of Trustees. The decision was announced by Chairman Michael N. Bapis following meetings held February 27, 2026, and Fr. Panagiotis will officially assume the role on June 1.

In a media release from Leadership 100, Bapis praised the appointment, citing the priest’s “deep experience, expertise, and energy,” and expressed gratitude to current Executive Director Paulette Poulos for recommending him and agreeing to remain in a transitional capacity before her retirement.

In July of last year, Leadership 100 announced that Penny Panayiota Deligiannis would succeed Poulos. The very next month, the non-profit announced that Poulos would remain in her position, which remained the case until Friday's news of Fr. Panagiotis' appointment.

Fr. Panagiotis currently serves as Director of the Archbishop’s Office for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, overseeing daily operations. He previously held the posts of Archdiocesan Assistant Chancellor and Interim Chancellor, managing clergy assignments and administrative transitions following the enthronement of Abp. Elpidophoros of America. He is the brother of Bp. Nektarios (Papazafiropoulos) of Diokleia, who currently serves as Chancellor of the Archdiocese.

During his tenure at the archdiocese, he has helped organize major ecclesial events, including the 2021 Apostolic Visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the United States and the Centennial Clergy-Laity Congress in New York. He also coordinated the 2022 U.S. visit of Patr. Theodoros II of Alexandria.

Earlier in his ministry, Fr. Panagiotis served as Youth Director for the Archdiocesan District, overseeing athletics, camping programs, and young adult ministries. He currently serves as presiding priest at St. Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Church in New York and holds the ecclesiastical rank of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne.

He has earned degrees from New York University, the University of Athens, and St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, as well as certification in Byzantine Music from the National Conservatory of Greece. He and his wife, Presvytera Christina, have three children.

At the 35th Annual Leadership 100 Conference earlier this month, Abp. Elpidophoros outlined his vision for the future of the archdiocese, which included transforming Hellenic College Holy Cross into a full-scale university and acquiring St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church on Park Avenue in Manhattan for the relocation of the Archdiocesan Cathedral. 

In regard to the latter, UOJ sources say that St. Bartholomew's has no intention of selling the property.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Demetrios Katos is stepping down as president of Hellenic College Holy Cross.

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