Welcome to our new Backend Developer, Dimitris Kritsotakis

We are delighted to introduce the latest addition to our Managed Services team, backend developer Dimitris Kritsotakis. Based in Athens but with his heart in the rugged mountains of Crete, Dimitris brings seven years of Drupal expertise and a passion for open-source contribution to the agency.

Alison Visser sat down with him to chat about his journey into development, his musical ambitions and his top tips for our upcoming team gathering in his home city.

Alison Visser: Tell us a bit about yourself

Dimitris Kritsotakis: I was born and raised in Athens, Greece, but my roots are firmly planted on the beautiful island of Crete. My father is from there, and I still feel a very deep connection to the island. I live in Athens now, but I make it a priority to visit Crete as often as I can to recharge.

Alison: We heard you have a rather unique way of staying connected to your Cretan roots?

Dimitris: That’s right! To keep a spiritual connection with the island while I’m in the city, I am learning to play the Cretan lute. It is a traditional instrument that is central to our folk music. I’ve been taking lessons at a music school for about two years now. It’s a wonderful way to switch off from the digital world.

Alison: How is the practice going?

Dimitris: It’s going well! It isn't the easiest instrument to pick up – it requires a lot of precision. But it’s not the most difficult either once you get into the rhythm. I actually performed at the Hamezi festival in Crete last summer. It’s an incredible event where the narrow streets and churchyards are filled with the sounds of the lyra and lute. Sadly, the festival is postponed for this year, but I’m already practising so I’m ready for my return to the stage next time!

Alison: When you aren't playing the lute, what do you do to unwind?

Dimitris: I love being outdoors. I’m a big fan of mountain walks; there is something about the scenery and the total absence of city noise that allows you to truly relax. Otherwise, I enjoy the usual things like catching up with friends or going for a long walk.

I’m also a bit of a gamer. I spend a fair amount of time on PC games, whether that's diving into a single-player campaign or playing online with friends. I’m mostly into racing and simulation games, but my absolute favourites are anything Star Wars related. I am a massive Star Wars geek.

Alison: You also have a few languages under your belt, don't you?

Dimitris: Greek is my native language, of course, and I’m comfortable working in English. I also know a bit of German, though it’s at a very basic level. I earned a language degree in German quite a while ago, but because I don't get much chance to use it outside of Duolingo, I’ve recently started daily sessions to refresh my memory and get my vocabulary back up to scratch.

Alison: Tell us about your role at Annertech.

Dimitris: I’ve joined the Managed Services team as a backend developer. My day-to-day tasks involve supporting Annertech’s wide range of clients, ensuring their sites are performing optimally and tackling any complex technical tasks that come our way.

Alison: How did your Drupal journey begin?

Dimitris: I’ve been working with Drupal for nearly seven years now. My career actually started just before the pandemic. I was volunteering for a European student organisation, and their IT team was already very experienced in Drupal 7. I got involved in a few projects there, learned the ropes of Drupal 7 and 8, and my professional career just kicked off from that point.

Alison: Do you have a particular professional specialty?

Dimitris: I love the logic of the backend. Anything custom-built is where I’m happiest. Give me hooks, services, twig templates or event subscribers and I’m in my element! I can handle almost anything on the server side, just please don’t ask me to do the CSS or JS!

Alison: What was it about Annertech that made you want to join?

Dimitris: I was really drawn to the Annertech family vibe. I’ve always admired the way the company works, particularly the genuine respect for work-life balance, which is something that is still surprisingly rare in our industry.

The fact that Annertech contributes so much back to the Drupal community was also a huge factor for me. It says a lot about a company’s values when they invest so much in the ecosystem they work in. It gives the agency a very positive image as a place that respects both its people and the wider community.

Alison: We’re heading to Athens soon for Annertech Days and Drupal Developer Days. As a local, what should we see?

Dimitris: It is such a brilliant coincidence that the next Annertech Days are in my home city just as I’ve joined! I can’t wait to show everyone around. You absolutely have to see the classic landmarks like the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum.

I’d also recommend a walk through the historic streets of Plaka and Thiseio, a visit to the Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro) and catching the changing of the guards at Syntagma Square. There is so much history to soak up!