George Economou was appointed as our President and Chief Executive Officer on September 2, 2010, and Chairman and director in December 2010. Mr. Economou has over 25 years of experience in the maritime industry. He has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of DryShips Inc. since January 2005. He successfully took DryShips public in February 2005, on the NASDAQ Global Market under the trading symbol "DRYS". Mr. Economou has overseen the growth of DryShips into one of the largest US-listed dry bulk companies in fleet size and revenue and one of the largest Panamax owners in the world. Mr. Economou began his career in 1976 when he commenced working as a Superintendent Engineer in Thenamaris Ship Management in Greece. From 1981-1986 he held the position of General Manager of Oceania Maritime Agency in New York. Between 1986 and 1991 he invested and participated in the formation of numerous individual shipping companies and in 1991 he founded Cardiff Marine Inc., Group of Companies. Mr. Economou is a member of ABS Council, Intertanko Hellenic Shipping Forum, and Lloyds Register Hellenic Advisory Committee. Mr. Economou is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and a Master of Science in Shipping and Shipbuilding Management.
Prokopios (Akis) Tsirigakis was appointed to serve on our Board of directors in September 2011. Mr. Tsirigakis serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Nautilus Marine Acquisition Corp., a newly-organized blank check company formed for the purpose of acquiring one or more operating businesses or assets. In November 2007 he founded, and until February 2011 was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Star Bulk Carriers Corp. a dry-bulk shipping company listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: SBLK) that owns and manages vessels aggregating in excess of 1.2 million deadweight tons of cargo capacity. He has served as a director of Star Bulk Carriers Corp. since November 2007. From May 2005 till November 2007 he founded and served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Star Maritime Acquisition Corp. (AMEX: SEA). Mr. Tsirigakis is experienced in ship ownership, ship management and new shipbuilding projects. Mr. Tsirigakis formerly served on the board of directors of DryShips. Since November 2003, he served as Managing Director of Oceanbulk Maritime S.A., a dry cargo shipping company that has operated and managed vessels. From November 1998 till November 2007, Mr. Tsirigakis served as the Managing Director of Combine Marine Inc., a company which he founded and that is providing ship management services to third parties. From 1991 to 1998, Mr. Tsirigakis was the Vice-President and Technical Director of Konkar Shipping Agencies S.A. of Athens, after having served as Konkar’s Technical Director from 1984 to 1991; the company at the time managed 16 dry bulk carriers, multi-purpose vessels and tanker/combination carriers. From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Tsirigakis was the Technical Manager of Konkar’s affiliate, Arkon Shipping Agencies Inc. of New York. He is a life-member of The Propeller Club of the United States, a member of the Technical Committee (CASTEC) of Intercargo, the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners, President of the Hellenic Technical Committee of RINA, the Italian Classification Society and member of the Technical Committees of various Classification Societies. Mr. Tsirigakis received his Masters and B.Sc. in Naval Architecture from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and has seagoing experience.
Michael Gregos was appointed to our board of directors in December 2010. Mr. Gregos is Project Manager for Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd. which he joined in 2001. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Gregos was employed as Chief Operating Officer by Oceanfreight Inc.. Prior to that period, he worked for a shipping concern based in Athens and New York for five years and the Corporate Finance arm of a Greek bank for one year. He is a graduate of Queen Mary University in London and holds an M.Sc. in Shipping, Trade and Finance from City University.
Trygve Arnesen was appointed to our board of directors in December 2010. Mr. Arnesen is a director for Aftermarket Eastern Region with FMC Technologies, a position he has held since August 2010. Mr. Arnesen holds an M.Sc. in petroleum engineering and applied geophysics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology from 1980. He has worked in the drilling and oil service industry since 1982, and has held a broad range of positions with various companies including Wilhelmsen (1982-1984), Morco&Ross (1984-1985), Norcem / Aker Drilling (1985-1989), Saga (1989), Transocean / Procon / Prosafe (1990-1992 and 1994-2005), Shell (1992-1994), and Odfjell (2005-2006). From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Arnesen was the Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Rig ASA, the Company's predecessor, and he worked as Chief Executive Officer for Norwind from 2008 until 2010.
Savvas Georghiades was appointed to our board of directors in December 2010. Mr. Georghiades has been a practicing lawyer in Cyprus since 1976. He is a graduate of the Aristotle University in Thessaloniki. Mr. Georghiades is a member of the Shipping Committee of the Cyprus Bar Association.