 Born in the village of Poulithra in Arcadia, Hardouvelis is a professor of finance and economics, Department of Banking and Financial Management at the University of Piraeus and chief economist and director of research, EUROBANK Group.He held position of the director of the Economic Office of Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos (November 2011 – May 2012), assisting the government during talks with bondholders about a writedown of debt and with the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and the European Central Bank on Greece’s second adjustment program.During 2000–2004, he was director of the Economic Office of Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis.