Nicholas G. Fistes
Board of Directors, Executive Chairman

Nicholas G. Fistes began his career as a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer in charge of worldwide new construction and shipbuilding with Ceres Hellenic Shipping Enterprises Ltd. He later became the Chief Executive Officer of Ceres, one of the largest ship management companies in the world, managing various types of ships including crude oil tankers, chemical tankers, LNG ships and dry bulk carriers.

Mr. Fistes has also served as CEO of Seachem Tankers Ltd., a commercial chemical tanker operating company and as CEO of Coeclerici Ceres Bulk Carriers, a bulk carrier shipping company. From 2001 - 2004 he also served on the board of ITOPF (International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation).

He served on the Executive Committee of Euronav NV from 2006 to 2008. He was also a Board Member of the shipmanagement companies Ceres LNG Services Ltd. and Ceres Hellas Maritime Company from 2004 to 2006.

In 2006, together with Michael S. Zolotas, Nicholas Fistes founded GrandUnion Inc., a shipholding company where he holds the position of Chairman.

From March 2007 until 2009, he was the Chairman of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) and serves on the Board of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA).

He is a member of a number of industry-related associations including the Executive Committee of the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Mr. Fistes serves on the Hellenic Committees for Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) and the Korean Register of Shipping (KR). Mr. Fistes also serves on the Mediterranean Committee for the China Classification Society (CCS).

Mr. Fistes holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding from Newcastle Upon-Tyne University and a Master’s of Science Degree in Ocean Systems Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Michael S. Zolotas
Board of Directors, Member
President, Chief Executive Officer

Michael S. Zolotas is a third generation shipowner with 18 years technical, operational and commercial experience. He completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology.

Mr. Zolotas joined Stamford Navigation Inc. as a superintendent engineer where he spent almost three years in sea service and in pure technical matters including repairs and conversions and newbuildings.

In 1999, Mr. Zolotas became General Manager of Stamford Navigation Inc. Over the next six years, he expanded Stamford Navigation Inc. from two vessels to close to thirty vessels ranging from 17,000 dwt to 170,000 dwt.

In 2005, he was nominated as member of Bureau Veritas (BV) Black Sea Mediterranean Committee, on which he serves as board member. In 2006, he was nominated as member of Registro Italiano Navale (RINA). He is also a member of China Classification Society (CCS) Mediterranean Committee. From 2001 to 2007, he served on the board of the CTM Pool.

In 2006, together with Mr. Nicholas G. Fistes, Mr. Zolotas founded GrandUnion Inc., where he serves as Chief Executive Officer and is a board member.

Spyros Gianniotis
Board of Directors, Member

Spyros Gianniotis has worked in various positions in major banks throughout Greece and the United States for over 23 years. From 1989 until 2001, Mr. Gianniotis held positions at Citigroup in Athens, Piraeus and New York. In 2001, Mr. Gianniotis became the Assistant General Manager, Head of Shipping at Piraeus Bank S. A. In 2008, Mr. Gianniotis became the Chief Financial Officer of Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc., a position he currently holds.

Mr. Gianniotis holds a BA from Queens College, CUNY, a MSc from Maritime College, SUNY and an MBA from Wagner College. He joined NewLead’s Board of Directors in 2009.

Masaaki Kohsaka
Board of Directors, Member

Masaaki Kohsaka has over 50 years of experience in the maritime sector in virtually every phase of operations and management. In 1995, Mr. Kohsaka served as the Managing Director, Planning Department and Cruise Department and Executive Officer of Owners Division of Showa Line Ltd..  Prior to that position, he served as the Director and General Manager, Planning Department at Showa Line Ltd. in charge of newbuildings, sale and purchase, shipmanagement, insurance and legal matters.

Masaaki Kohsaka started his career in 1959 in the Liner Department of Nissan Steamship Co. Ltd.  He has been a Maritime Arbitrator since 1991 and a Member of the Tokyo Maritime Arbitration Commission from 1991-1997.

Masaaki Kohsaka is a graduate of The Faculty of Law, Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. He joined NewLead’s Board of Directors in 2009.

Panagiotis Skiadas
Board of Directors, Member

Panagiotis Skiadas has served as a member of our board of directors since the closing of our initial public offering in June 2005.

Mr. Skiadas is currently the Environmental Manager of VIOHALCO S.A., a holding company of the largest Greek metals processing group that incorporates approximately 90 companies and accounts for approximately 10% of Greece’s total exports. Within that role, Mr. Skiadas is responsible for all environmental and climate change issues as well as certain energy related matters.

Prior to joining VIOHALCO in April 2006, Mr. Skiadas performed a similar role for a subsidiary of VIOHALCO, ELVAL S.A. He has also served as the Section Manager of Environmental Operations for the Organizational Committee of Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

Mr. Skiadas holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Environmental Engineering.

Apostolos Tsitsirakis
Board of Directors, Member

Apostolos Tsitsirakis has long worked within the maritime industry in both London and Piraeus. From 1997 to 2003, Mr. Tsitsirakis was affiliated with a family ship-owning and management company where he held the position of Director of Marine Operations.  He is the founder and previously served as President of Maritime Capital, a private consulting and management firm with particular emphasis on shipping and international oil industries.

Mr. Tsitsirakis has served on the Board of Directors of Aegean Marine Petroleum Inc., and has participated as a partner and investor in Fleet Acquisition LLC, the fleet acquisition company that formed Genco Shipping.

Mr. Tsitsirakis has a Master's degree in Business Administration from Webster University in London. He joined NewLead’s Board of Directors in 2009.

Ioannis Tzoannos
Board of Directors, Member

Ioannis Tzoannos has had a long standing career working within the field of economics, maritime trade and academics. Mr. Tzoannos has served as a member of the Hellenic Parliament and numerous Parliamentary Committees and programs. He has been a noted academic lecturer for over twenty five years and has been published in academic journals throughout the EU on such topics as Applied Economics, Shipping Policy, Financial Structure of Companies and M&A. He has been affiliated with the Athens University of Economics and Business, where he most currently serves as a Full Professor, since 1977.

Mr. Tzoannos most recently retired after serving for five years as the Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy Competitiveness and Shipping for Greece.

Mr. Tzoannos received his formal education in England, with his undergraduate work completed at the University of Manchester, Masters Degree in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Southampton and finally his Ph.D. in Industrial Economics from the University of Birmingham.