Moplaco has been managed for about ten years by Heleanna Georgalis, a woman with a singular background whose strength and character are no doubt reflected in the coffees she produces. For several years now, Belco has taken pleasure in sharing the same enthusiasm with her and her team to promote these high-quality coffees on the international scene.
Heleanna was born to a Greek father and a French-Greek mother living in Dire Dawa. Her family has worked in the coffee business in Ethiopia for a long time, since her father joined an uncle here in the 1950s, himself a coffee collector. When Heleanna turned 6 years old, the communist revolution swept the country forcing them to flee quickly, first from Dire Dawa to Addis Ababa by helicopter, then from Addis Ababa to Greece. Heleanna has vivid memories of this period, although she remembers her parents wanting to protect her from the surrounding chaos by pretending the departure was a great adventure, one in which they were to take part. Despite her young age, she also remembers how France supported them during their journey and thinks this is why she has always felt a strong connection with the country, before even travelling there. After spending 10 years in Greece and some time in England, she discovered France in her early years as a student. In her second year of medical school in Grenoble, she decided it was not a path she wished to continue. Her strong character took her to England, where she completed a Master's degree in Economics and Commercial Law. It was there that she met her husband Elias. This was followed by 8 years in finance in Belgium and Germany, followed by an MBA in Spain where she worked for several years. In 2008, her father’s demise called her back to Ethiopia. Although initially intending to stay just a few months in Addis Ababa, the time it took to settle some family matters, she has now been there for more than 10 years, very effectively managing the Moplaco company founded by her father. Heleanna is a remarkably enthusiastic woman, driven by a desire to perpetuate this heritage and achieve high levels of excellence. For Belco, she is an ideal partner, one with whom we will continue working to offer you rare coffees sourced from the Ethiopian industry.
