Born in Thessaloniki, refugee origin from both parents.
Although he did not study in the Maritime field, at a random visit to a shipping agency of that time in the early 1970s, he was tremendously impressed by the way of work and the particular subject. He used every acquaintance and ability to get involved into this business and he made it in the end.
Starting out of course as an employee for many years, he managed to set up his own shipping agency, representing vessels, cruise ships and cargo.
Further on there was more growth that forced him to engage in logistics, storage, rail transport, handling, loading and servicing of cargo on board vessels. There has been an international recognition of these efforts.
The group consists of employees and laborers of 75 people with the ability to offer vertical services to the representing of ships and the handling, loading and forwarding of cargoes.
He has been elected President of the Federation of Shipping Agents of Greece and of the Shipping Agents Association of Thessaloniki for many years.
He is optimistic and he is struggling for the extroversion of the port and Thessaloniki in general because he believes it can not be second in turn but first in Greece and the East Mediterranean sea.
Besides, his profession is based on extroversion.
Dr. Kaplanis was appointed as Director General of the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation in 2015. He is an economist with degrees from London School of Economics (Ph.D., BSc) and University of Manchester (MSc). Before joining OBI, he worked as an Economist at the OECD for three years. In the past, Dr. Kaplanis worked for years in academia (London School of Economics; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain), and in the Economic Team of the Mayor of London. He has extensive experience advising national and regional governments on public governance and development policies in order to promote sustainable, inclusive and innovative cities and regions (China, Chile, Mexico, Greece, UK).
Dr. Kaplanis is a Research Associate on innovation and entrepreneurship at the Athens University of Economics and Business, as well as the University of Piraeus, and he is also a member of the Committee of Experts on Minimum Wage for Greece.
Mr. Kladakis holds a Bachelor in Department of Electronic and has certifications in IBM Security Systems Sales Professional v3, IBM Security QRadar v7.0 MR4 Fundamentals, IBM InfoSphere Guardium Solution Sales Professional v1, IBM InfoSphere Guardium, IBM InfoSphere Guardium Technical Mastery, MacAfee Certified Product Specialist – ePO and the Checkpoint -CCSA, CCSE.
It has a lot of experience over twenty five (25) consecutive years as a security officer in projects of private and public sector on the Security of Information Systems.
Mr. Theodore Veniamis was born in Vrontados Chios in 1950. In March 1974 he graduated from the University of Athens (School of Business and Economics) obtaining the extended title/specialization in Economics and Law.
Since 1977, he is the founding director of Golden Union Shipping Co. S.A., a dry cargo Ship Management – Operating company of which he is the President/CEO. Golden Union currently operates 44 dry bulk carriers of about 5.6 million dwt, with another 1 vessel on order. He is the head of Golden Union Group, which in addition is actively involved in a growing number of shipping and non-shipping related activities.
Since 2009, Mr. Veniamis is the President of the Union of the Greek Shipowners and an elected member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee since 1987.
As a recognised leader in the shipping industry, he has often been active in a number of international and national associations and committees. Currently, Mr. Veniamis is President of Otesat Maritel (Telecommunications services provider) and he is also the Honorary Chairman of the DNV GL Hellenic Committee, Chairman of the Hellenic Advisory Committee of Lloyds Register, Member of the Greek National Committee of ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) as well as Member of the Hellenic Committee of RINA (Italian Class Society).
Mr. George Xiradakis was born in Athens in 1964 and grew up in Volos. He graduated from the Aspropyrgos School of Merchant Marine and after a five-year assignment on Greek ships as a Merchant Marine Officer, he continued his studies in Great Britain by obtaining a Diploma in Commercial Operations from City of London Polytechnic and MSc in Maritime Studies from the University of Wales. He served as Senior Manager in the French bank Credit Lyonnais both in Athens and Paris. In 1999 he founded XRTC Business Consultants, which acts as a commercial representative of foreign banks (Credit Lyonnais, Natexis Banque Populaires, Natixis) and institutions in Greek Shipping Market. Since 2010 XRTC has been an advisor of China Development Bank, while Mr. Xiradakis has been appointed as a member of the Bank’s specialized advisory board.
Mr. Xiradakis is President of the International Propeller Club of the United States – International Port of Piraeus, Vice President of the Hellenic Chinese Chamber, General Secretary of the Association of Banking and Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping, VicePresident of the Greek-Chinese Association, member of the Mediterranean Committee of the China Classification Society (CCS), member of HELMEPA, Piraeus Shipping Club etc. He is also a BoD member of Paragon Shipping Inc. (NASDAQ: PRGN). In May 2019 he participated in the European elections as a candidate for MEPs.
Grigoris Zarotiadis was born on the 23rd of February 1972 in Thessaloniki. He studied economics in Johannes Kepler University of Linz – Austria. During his PhD he spent a year in UMIST (University of Manchester – Institute for Science and Technology). Currently, he is the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Political Sciences in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is the President of the Association of Economic Universities of South and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region – ASECU. His research covers the fields of international economics, economic development and economic growth, having a plentiful record of international academic publications and relevant citations. Since 2000, he serves as an Independent, Non – Executive Member of the Board of DROMEAS S.A.
Mr. Elias Hajiefremidis BSc, General Manager of HAJIEFREMIDIS S.A., is a 1996 graduate of Plymouth University U.K. with a degree in Shipping Business and Law. Upon graduation Elias joined the family business, HAJIEFREMIDIS S.A., which was established in 1959 by his father, Apostolos, and remains one of the oldest and most respected Shipping Agencies in Piraeus. Starting out as Head of Operations, Elias gradually gained the required experience to reach the position of General Manager which he holds until today.
George Maronidis is the founder and managing partner of “Maronidis & Associates Law Firm” admitted to practice before the Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Greece. He studied law at the Law School of the Democritus University of Thrace (LL.B) and holds an LL.M Postgraduate Degree in maritime & combined transport law from the University of Southampton. He also holds an Erasmus Diploma in English Law from the University of Essex. His focus is mainly on shipping law, transportation law, commercial law, company law, export law and logistics. He has established a reputation in litigation and legal counseling in his work, advising and representing domestic and international clients in relation to shipping and trading matters, investments, mergers, commercial negotiations. Over the last 23 years “Maronidis & Associates Law Firm” with offices in Piraeus & Thessaloniki provides high quality legal consulting, arbitration, mediation and litigation services in a wide range of issues, given that the Firm diligently supports its domestic and international clientele in the most effective and profitable ways, through its pragmatic and business-focused approach. The Firm’s clients range from reputable commercial companies & shipowners to Port Operators, forwarders and traders, from commercial joint ventures and shipping companies to import-export enterprises, maritime associations and unions, from blue chip companies to small businesses and private individuals. Furthermore, the Firm represents before the Greek Government, Transporter, Shipping Agent, Forwarder and Professional Associations, Organizations, Unions all over Greece and participates in major relevant Conferences.
Dr. George Sarantavgas, is the Director of Standards and Solutions at GS1 Association Greece. He holds a B.Eng(Hons) on Electronics & Computer Engineering and an M.Sc on Digital Communications. In 2004 the Royal Academy of Engineering of Great Britain awarded him a scholarship to begin his Ph.D studies on Electrical and Electronics Engineering for medical applications at Cranfield University and graduated in 2009.
He worked in multinational companies in the High Technology industry in Europe and Greece and he has participated in projects developing hardware and software, collaborating with companies such as Samsung, Thales, BAE, GE, Carl Zeiss, Philips etc.
From 2012 to 2014 he served as an advisor to the Greek Ministry of Health for sectors like technology, information systems and strategic management. He has also served as a substitute member at the Board of Directors of Sotiria General Hospital from 2013 to 2014.
From 2014 he worked as a senior auditor in ISO Quality Management Systems in the healthcare sector and also as a CE auditor for medical devices and software.
Dr. George Sarantavgas is a member of scientific organisations and institutes (ΙΕΕΕ, ΙΕΤ, ΕΕL, TEE).
Ilias G. Bissias is the Director of the acclaimed Greek Shipping Magazine Naftika Chronika (published since 1931) and the educational platform Isalos.net. He is currently also the Press Officer of SuperEco Tankers and Bulkers Management, as well as the Director of Strategy for the Hellenic Marine Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters (HEMEXPO). Since 2002 Mr. Bissias has regularly lectured on the areas of international maritime policy, strategic management in shipping, corporate communications and contemporary maritime history. Since 2014 he is part time and adjunct lecturer at the ALBA Graduate Business School. In the past he has also worked for the European Commission (1999-2002) and was a legal correspondent for Greece in the areas of air transport law and policy. Mr. Bissias holds a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Law from the University of London. In 2009 he was invited by the US State Department to visit the US on the IV Leadership Program (IVLP).
