Panos Zafet
BALTHELLAS GROUP, MANAGING DIRECTOR
Panagiotis Zafet is the Managing Director of Balthellas Group, a ship management and shipbroking company he founded in 1991. He took over the family ship-agency business and expanded the company into full-scale management of multipurpose, container, timber cargo and dry cargo vessels.
In the years 2016-2017, he has organized, consummated and led a new venture currently operating Panamax/Kamsarmax bulk carriers.
During the years of 2004-2008, he co-founded and led as C.E.O. and Co-Chairman Seanergy Maritime Corp., a Blank Check financial vehicle listed in the AMEX. The business plan developed was approved by the SEC and investors in 2008, leading to the integration of a strong bulk carrier fleet and listing in NASDAQ.
In the year 2008, Panagiotis structured and materialized the acquisition of the general cargo fleet of Danish multinational DFDS including the en-bloc purchase of 4 dry cargo ships.
Prior to founding Balthellas, he served as the CEO of Hellasco Shipping Ltd. during 1986 –1991 and as the company’s Director during 1991-2016, a company specializing in the liner shipping industry, active in the forest products trade through a regular shipping service between Scandinavia and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Panagiotis holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from the Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki.