Uras M. Aslan was elected to the IFAF Board of Directors as Finance Director at the 2024 IFAF Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland.
As President of the Danube Dragons American Football Team, he has led the team to National Championships in 2022 and 2023, followed by the CEFL Championship in 2024, Uras (pictured left) is also a Vice-President for the Austrian Federation of American Football, and his dual roles in the business and sports sectors demonstrate his versatility and capability to lead complex organizations.
Uras is a highly accomplished finance leader with a strong track record in strategic financial management and business development across multiple industries and geographies. He is currently the Founder and CFO of Lyonel Group, a conglomerate of health tech companies based in Vienna, Austria, which he established in 2021 during the pandemic.
Within the first 24 months, the group achieved a remarkable revenue of €28.5 million. Uras serves as a strategic pivot for all startups within the holding, overseeing the creation and hiring of key support functions, including finance, sales, customer care, and supply chain management for a 220-headcount organization.
Prior to founding Lyonel Group, Uras held several key finance leadership roles at ATOS IT Solutions, a global technology leader. As Group Finance & Credit Manager, he managed the global credit risk portfolio and led a team of 12 credit controllers across diverse regions, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and reducing overdue ratios despite the challenging economic environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, as CFO for the GCC Region, he successfully spearheaded the complete overhaul of finance processes for operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Lebanon. His initiatives in treasury management and budgeting resulted in a reduction of the overdue ratio from 64% to 22% within a year, significantly improving the financial health of the region.
Uras's expertise in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) is underpinned by his experience as Head of FP&A for Central and Eastern Europe at ATOS, where he led the financial planning and consolidation for 16 countries and 42 entities for a €1.1 billion business unit. In parallel to his professional career, Uras has made significant contributions to the sports community.
With expertise in US GAAP, IFRS, and international finance, along with proven success in financial restructuring, operational excellence, and strategic planning, Uras is a versatile finance executive poised to deliver value in board-level roles, particularly those requiring strong governance, financial stewardship, and cross-functional leadership.
“I bring a strong track record in financial leadership across diverse industries and geographies,” explained Uras. “With extensive experience as a CFO and Group Finance Manager, I have successfully led complex financial operations in global settings, such as managing credit risks, financial planning, and P&L management for entities in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. My role as Founder & CFO at Lyonel Group, where I managed financial operations and built a sustainable multi-company structure specializing in healthcare during the pandemic, showcases my ability to drive organisational growth and achieve substantial revenue targets.
“Throughout my career, I have demonstrated key competencies crucial for a board-level role, including strategic business planning, financial restructuring, and change management. As CFO of a multi-national business cluster, I managed finance functions in countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, improving cash flow and optimizing financial performance through a comprehensive overhaul of financial processes. My expertise in US GAAP, IFRS, and international treasury management ensures compliance and excellence in financial oversights.
“Additionally, as President of the Danube Dragons and Vice-President for the Austrian Federation of American Football, I have acquired leadership skills tailored to the sports industry, managing financial and operational aspects while working with governing bodies. This combination of financial acumen and direct involvement in American Football governance uniquely positions me to contribute meaningfully to the International Federation of American Football’s strategic and financial objectives.”
