Cementing the Future: TITAN’s Chairman Dimitri Papalexopoulos on AI, Risk, and People

Last week, Endeavor Greece hosted an intimate dinner with Dimitri Papalexopoulos, Chairman of TITAN Group and Board Member of Endeavor Greece. The conversation gathered founders and CEOs around the table to discuss how AI is transforming traditional industries, the challenges of cultural change, and what leadership really looks like in times of rapid technological shift.

Why AI Matters in Heavy Industry

For Dimitri, the starting point is simple: if Greece wants sustainable growth, it needs to strengthen its capacity to innovate - not just academically, but through applied innovation across sectors. He shared TITAN’s journey, which began over a decade ago when he attended a conference in California that sparked a new way of thinking about technology and competitiveness, even for a 120-year-old company in cement production.

“Back then, we were in the middle of the Greek crisis, and times were tough. But we realised that if a company sits still for ten years without learning anything new, it stagnates,” he shared. This realization triggered TITAN’s digital transformation journey.

From Data to Real-Time AI Operations

The first step was data. Cement plants have thousands of sensors measuring flow, temperature, and pressure. TITAN systematically collected this data to make it accessible and usable. They built small, dedicated teams - not just tech hires, but experienced operational staff willing to see things differently. “It’s crucial to identify those people who are ready to think differently, regardless of age,” he noted, describing how many of the most innovative ideas came from staff in their 50s and 60s.

Over the years, TITAN moved from pilots to real-time AI implementation. In Florida, an AI system now controls the plant’s operations 99% of the time, optimising production automatically. The result? Up to 10% increase in output - a game-changing figure in heavy industry. “The quality is incredibly stable. AI sees millions of signals per second, far beyond human capability,” he explained.

Leadership’s Role in AI Integration

However, technology alone isn’t enough. Dimitri highlighted that true transformation depends on mindset and culture. He encouraged leaders to:

• Start small, but think big. TITAN began with three pilot projects designed to deliver measurable results quickly, building confidence for larger rollouts.

• Embrace calculated risk. In conservative industries, taking risks is hard - but necessary for progress.

• Celebrate failures as well as successes. To drive adoption, they made it clear that setbacks were part of the learning process.

• Invest in people. TITAN created its own academy to upskill employees, recognising that in-house talent remains critical despite external partnerships with startups and universities worldwide.

AI: Opportunity or Threat?

The discussion turned to the broader implications of AI - productivity gains, yes, but also risks related to employment and inequality. Dimitri acknowledged these tensions, emphasising that leadership must guide not just technological implementation, but also the ethical and organisational adaptations that come with it.

The Next Chapter for TITAN

Looking ahead, TITAN is expanding AI applications to all its plants globally by 2026. The company is also investing in new materials and startups developing decarbonisation technologies, energy storage, and advanced manufacturing processes. “In the end, what you build is a mindset and a culture shift. That doesn’t happen overnight - you earn it over time,” Dimitri concluded.

In a world where AI is becoming a buzzword, Dimitri Papalexopoulos’ approach is a reminder that true innovation isn’t about chasing hype. It’s about building the systems, culture, and leadership that turn technology into real-world progress.