Board of Directors – Members

Mr. Efthymios E. Mitropoulos – Chairman

Mr. Mitropoulos is Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the regulation of international shipping from the safety, security and environmental protection points of view.

After 23 years of service at IMO (ten of which as Director of the Maritime Safety Division), he was elected Secretary-General in 2003 and re-elected in 2007 for a total of the maximum time permitted of eight years. As a graduate of both Merchant and Naval Academies of Greece, he spent time at sea as a navigation officer and twenty years as a commissioned Hellenic Coast Guard officer retiring as a Rear Admiral, having represented Greece at IMO and various other international fora dealing with shipping matters over a twelve-year period and having spent two years as Harbour Master of Corfu. Between 2004 and 2012, he was Chancellor of the World Maritime University, Malmo, Sweden and Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta. He is the author of several books on shipping, including books on tankers, modern types of merchant ships, safety of navigation and shipping economics and policy.

He is Chairman of the Board of the “Maria Tsakos” Public Benefit Foundation – International Centre of Maritime Research and Tradition and Chancellor of the AMET Maritime University in Chennai, India.

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Prof. Costas Grammenos – Vice-Chairman

Prof. Costas Grammenos is a Greek Academician. Born in 1944 in Athens, but with origins from Corfu, he studied Economics in the Panteion University of Athens. He holds a MSc. in Financial Economics from ”Bangor University” in Wales and a DSc. in Shipping Finance from the ”City University” in London.

He started his career in the National Bank of Greece in 1962, and was financial shipping expert at the Bank’s head office in Athens. He joined “City University” in 1982 as Visiting Professor and became Professor of Shipping, Trade and Finance in 1986. He founded the
“International Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance” which, in 2007, was renamed to “Costas Grammenos Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance”. He is Chairman of the Managing Committee of the International Hellenic University of Thessaloniki, Member of the Board of Directors of the “Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation” and Member of the American Bureau of Shipping. Prof. Grammenos has also been President of the International Association of Maritime Economists and he is Visiting Professor at the University of Antwerp.

In 1994, he was awarded by Queen Elizabeth as “Officer of the British Empire” in honour of his contribution to teaching and promoting the greek-british relations. He was “1998 Seatrade Personality of the Year” and in 1999, he was awarded with DSc. as, through his published research, he made Shipping Finance a new academic discipline. In 2009,
Professor Grammenos was recognised for his prominent role in making London the World’s leading centre for teaching and research in the world of shipping, trade and finance with the award of a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in the Queen’s New Years Honours list.

During 2011-2013, he was ranked among the top 100 most influential people in shipping in the Lloyd’s List Top 100.

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Mr. Simos Palios – Vice-Chairman

Mr. Symeon Pantelis Palios was born in Chios Island, Greece. Among his ancestors were three Chian families of shipowners with a large maritime tradition over the centuries; those were the Palios family, the Colakis family and the Margaronis family.

He graduated from the historical High School for Boys of Chios and he holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from Durham University. He has served as an ensign in the Greek Navy for the inspection of passenger boats on behalf of Ministry of Merchant Marine and is qualified as a naval architect and engineer.

Mr. Palios has experience in the shipping industry since 1969 when he acquired his first ship “SEMIRA”. Since 1972, when he formed Diana Shipping Agencies, Mr. Palios was the Managing Director. He is the founder of Diana Shipping Inc. and Diana Containerships Inc. where he serves as a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since February, 2005 and January, 2010, respectively.

Mr. Palios was a member of various leading classification societies worldwide such as the Union of Greek shipowners, the General Committee of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, and he is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the United Kingdom Freight Demurrage and Defense Association Limited. Since 2011, is a Board Member of the “Maria Tsakos” Foundation where he serves as 2nd Vice-Chairman.

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Dr. Stratos Papadimitriou – Cashier

Dr. Stratos Papadimitriou is a Professor at the Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus. He is also the director of the Transportation Systems Laboratory that was established over a decade ago.

His subject areas of expertise are Transportation Systems and Logistics. He has a Bachelors in Engineering Degree from the City College of the City University of New York, a Masters degree in Management from Polytechnic Institute of New York and a Ph.D in Transportation Planning and Engineering from the same University. He has also extensive administrative experience in the field of Transport. From July 2010 till October 2012 he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Athens International Airport and from July 1997 till July 2002 he served as CEO of the Athens Urban Transport Organization. He is has acted as an expert and adviser to Ministers of Transport and Economy, the European Union, the World Bank, the EESC, OECD, on a variety of issues ranging from transport development, financing and transport policy formulation issues.

He has written three books and over seventy research papers in academic journals.

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Mrs. Katerina Tsartacleas – Secretary

(Curriculum Vitae pending)

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His Eminence, the Metropolitan Bishop of Chios, Psara and Oinousses, Mr. Markos – Member

He was born in Chios in 1965. In 1988, he obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the Department of Literature of the Philosophical School of the National and Kapodestrian University of Athens. In 1998, he got his Bachelor’s Degree from the Department of Theological Studies. He had attended for three years a Mastery Inter-scientific of Byzantine Studies at the University of Athens, as well as Paleography lessons at the National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation. From 1988 until 1993 he had been working as a literature master in the private sector.

In 1994 he was ordained deacon and in 2000 he was ordained priest. In 1999 he was assigned as a preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Chios. Ιn 2000, he was Assistant Secretary Chancellor, in 2003 he served as Second-in-line Secretary of the Holy Synod, in 2006 Primus Secretary of the Holy Synod and in 2010 Secretary Chancellor of the Holy Synod with the responsibility of the drafting, the amending and the literary editing of all the Holy Synod documents. He is also a Stated Member of the returning board of the Library of the Holy Synod, the Supreme Service Church Council and the Special Synodic Boards which concern: a) the cultural identity, b) the observation of European matters, and c) sports. He can speak English. He is a Member of the Greek Philologists’ Association, the Hellenic Theologists’ Association and the Literature Club “Parnassos”. He has participated as a speaker in International and Greek Conferences of theological, literature and historic interest, as well as in Church Missions both in Greece and above.

He has written books, studies and articles in newspapers and magazines. In 2001 he was appointed as a Literature teacher of Secondary Education and he has been approved by the Athens School of Philosophy to prepare his Ph.D. in Byzantine Literature. He has been honoured many times. After his recommendations, the Holy Synod has appointed Efstathios, Archbishop of Thessaloniki as a Protector of the Homer’s Studies. In 2011, he was ordained Eminent Metropolitan Bishop of Chios, Psara and Oinousses.

He has been a Member of the Board of Directors of the “Maria Tsakos” Foundation since 2015.

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Mr. George Anomeritis – Member

Yiorgos Anomeritis is an economist, graduate of the Economic University of Athens. He has significant experience as CEO or President in major public and private companies. He has had parliamentary activity as MP for 14 years (1993-2007) and has served as Minister of Shipping (2001-2003), Minister of Agriculture (1998-2001), Alternate Minister of Finance (1995-1996), Deputy Minister of Economics (1996) and President of the EU Council of Ministers of Shipping (2003).

Mr. Anomeritis is known for his anti-dictatorship action, having been convicted by the Supreme Military Court to 145 years imprisonment. He remained in the junta prison for four years. He was awarded the Medal of Honor of the Greek Republic, the Peace and Friendship award “Ipektsi”, the Supreme Commander of the Holy Sepulchre, member  of  Archons of Ecumenical Patriarchate,  and others. Mr. Anomeritis is the author of a large number of books and articles in a wide range of subjects such as poetry and literature, environment, economics, political sciences, management, and history  research.

From  2009-2015 has  been  Chairman and CEO of Piraeus Port Authority SA and Chairman of the Hellenic Ports Association (E.LIM.E.).

More  information  in:  www.anomeritis.gr

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Mr. Frangiskos Archontakis – Member

(Curriculum Vitae pending)

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Mr. John Mandalas – Member

Yannis Mandalas was born in Chios in 1962 and is the Managing Director of MEDITERRA SA, a company listed at Athens Stock Exchange Market. He has been involved with Chios Mastiha since 2001 when the Board of Directors of the Chios Mastiha Grower’s Association entrusted him with the reorganization plan of the homonym cooperative. At the same time, he is the CEO of “The Mastiha Research Center SA”, chairman of the company “Mastiha Damla Sakiz SA”, Administrator of the Company “Traditional Greek Products Ltd” and founder of the “Old Farm School IKE”.

Since April 2015 to November 2018 he has been the vice president of “Enterprise Greece SA”. He is a member of the Economic Chamber of Greece and vice-president of the “Aegean Sports Club”.

With financial and pedagogical studies at the Universities of Piraeus and Aegean, he worked as a financial and commercial manager in major groups in Athens. In Chios, as the Director of the Development Corporation of the Prefecture, he first came across local and regional development issues, which was a valuable asset in dealing with Chios Mastiha, which is the most important natural resource of the island.

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Mr. Acis Montanios – Member

Acis Montanios was born in Famagusta on the island of Cyprus.

He graduated from the Greek Gymnasium of Famagusta in the Classical Section. He studied law in London at the College of Law and the Council of Legal Education and was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple.

He served in the Cyprus National Guard as a Second Lieutenant, having graduated the Reserve Officers’ School of Heraclion in Crete.

During the Turkish invasion in the summer of 1974 he served as a Platoon Commander on the “Green Line” at Agios Pavlos in Nicosia and he was wounded twice.

In 1972 he joined as a junior Associate the family firm of Montanios & Montanios, one of the oldest Cypriot law firms founded by his late father, Michael Montanios, in 1951.  In 1976 he became a Partner and in 1984 the CEO.  Together with his brothers Eric and Adam Montanios, they are the Executive Partners of the current 20-lawyer strong firm.

Throughout his career he has specialized in maritime and admiralty law, has contributed articles and the sections on Cyprus in Shipping Finance publications.

He has served as a member of the Ad Hoc Legal Committee of the Cyprus Shipping Council, a member of the Law Reform Committee on Merchant Shipping and a member of the Greek-Cypriot negotiating team on the proposed Federal Laws relating to shipping and admiralty set up before the referendum on the Annan Plan for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

He is the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Mali in Cyprus and was decorated by the French Government with the insignia of the Chevalier de l’ Ordre National du Merite for his legal services to the French Embassy and community in Cyprus.

He is married to Aleca Michaelides and has three daughters from his first marriage, Elvina, Christina & Alki, all three practicing advocates in the law firm of Montanios & Montanios.

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Mr. Charalambos Hajimichael – Member

(Curriculum Vitae pending)

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Mr. John Hadjis – Member

(Curriculum Vitae pending)

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Mr. John Polychronopoulos – Member

Mr. Polychronopoulos was born in Piraeus. He is married with two children. He is operating a group of Companies in the field of marine & industrial environmental protection: the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENGINEERING SA (www.epe.gr), POLYECO SA (www.polyeco.gr) and MEGA EKO SA. His aims are the sustainable development, the expansion and quality upgrade of his enterprises in conformity with the international specifications and standards, as well as the cultural promotion of Piraeus.

He is the Chairman of the Hellenic-Ukrainian Chamber, of the Shisto’s Industrial Park at Perama Area, as well as of the “Association of Piraeus Archeological Museum” Friends. He is also, ex-Chairman of the “Piraikos Association” and of the Commercial Chamber of Piraeus.

He is the only Piraeus citizen that has been honored twice by the Academy of Athens : Firstly, in 1992 for his significant social offer towards the protection of the environment and also for his unselfish efforts to restore the Friendly Company’s House and the operation of the relevant museum in Odessa, Ukraine. The second time was in 2008 for his services to the Academy as well as to many other associations and bodies, for his social contribution.

He has been granted the supreme honor order by the Patriarch of Alexandria in 1995 and by the Ukrainian President Mr. Koutsma for his services in the relations strengthening between Greece-Ukraine in 2004. The Municipality of Chios island, Greece declared him in 2004 as an Honorary Citizen of Chios Island for his intense efforts to strengthen the relations among Chios and Odessa. Moreover, he has been elected as Honorary Member of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA).

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 Mrs. Maria El. Tsakos – Member

(Curriculum Vitae pending)

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Mrs. Vasiliki Tsakos – Member

(Curriculum Vitae pending)

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Mrs. Sandra Welch – Member

(Curriculum Vitae pending)

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Mr. George Zabelas – Member

George Zabelas is a qualified architect with extensive experience as a principal and manager in the planning, supervision and construction of real estate projects, both from commercial and strategic investment perspectives.

Mr. Zabelas is a former member of the BoD of the Alexander S. Onassis Business and Public Benefit Foundations (1988-2008). From 2005 until 2008 he served as Secretary of both BoD.

He was an Executive Officer of the Onassis Group for over 10 years in charge of the management and investment strategy of the international real estate activities of the Group and also involved in the supervision of other business and cultural activities including shipping, financial assets, charitable grants, international cultural prizes etc. He was responsible for the Group’s international commercial real estate portfolio including the Olympic Tower in New York, office buildings in London, Monaco, Athens as well as participations and co-investments in various real estate funds investing mainly in Eastern Europe. Total real estate assets under management exceeded $1bn. He supervised the planning and construction of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre as well as many other construction projects of the Onassis Foundation.

In 1993 he founded his own independent firm “Zabelas Architects & Associates” which offers architectural design, project management and consulting services and implements private construction projects in Greece and abroad. Mr. Zabelas’ experience extends to international real estate portfolio advisory and management, analyzing and evaluating investment opportunities, acquisitions and sales, including related issues such as financing, legal and tax.

He is a graduate of the Architectural School of the National Technical University of Athens and holds an MSc in Environmental and Bioclimatic Design and Engineering from UCL. He is a member of the Technical Chamber of Greece.

Since 2011 he is a member of the BoD of the “Maria Tsakos” Foundation.

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