Our people

We are a united team of varied and vibrant experts, merging innovation and vision in order to reshape boundaries.

Leadership

Nicholas Papapolitis

Chairman

Nicholas is the Chairman of EverExcel.
He started his career as an associate in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

He has worked with some of the largest global asset management firms on high-end landmark transactions that have taken place in Greece and South Europe.

Nicholas has expertise in originating, structuring, and executing transactions across the capital structure and oversees all the investment strategies of Ever Excel.

He has held board positions in leading listed and privately held organizations in the financial services, real-estate, technology and healthcare industries, as well as board positions in chambers of commerce, non-profit charitable organizations and educational institutions.

These include: American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce (BoD Member and Chair of Finance & Investment Committee), Fifth Down Capital (Board of Advisors), FAMAR AVE (Chairman), Invel Real Estate Partners LLP (Partner and BoD Member), One & Only Resorts (Kea) (Chairman), Prodea Investments REIC (BoD Member), Intralot Group (BoD Member), Intracom Properties (BoD Member), Intracom Ventures (BoD Member), Ygia Polyclinic Hospital (BoD Member), St. Catherines British School (Governor) and The Hellenic Initiative.

Nicholas has been listed in the 100 most influential personalities in the Greek Market for 2021, 2022 and 2023 from the Mononews 100.

Nicholas holds an LLB (Hons) from University College of London (UCL) and an LLM (Merit) from University of London (Queen Mary College).

Eraklis Kyriakides

Vice – Chairman

Eraklis is the Founder and Managing Director of Eraklis N. Kyriakides L.L.C, a full-service law firm and business advisory firm based in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Eraklis has held board positions in leading companies in the airline, technology and construction and development sectors. He is also a Senior Advisor to several international corporate and financial institutions in Europe, Asia and Africa.

He has acted as Leading Counsel to the Board of various domestic and international companies particularly in relation to matters of corporate governance, corporate liability and director’s duties and liabilities.

He holds a LLB from  National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Leicester.

 

Thomas Varvitsiotis

Member of Investment Committee

Τhomas Varvitsiotis is the president and co-founder of V+O GROUP. 

With almost 20 years of experience in the field of communication, strategic planning and media relations for a large number of companies and organizations of both the public and the private sector in Greece and the U.S.

He has worked as a journalist at a major Greek Daily Political Newspaper (Eleftheros Typos) and from 1993 to 1995 he was the publisher of the monthly international affairs magazine “EMPHASIS”. 

He is also serving as President of the Fletcher Club of Greece, Vice-President of the Lambropoulos Foundation and President of the Urban NGO “Paradeigmatos Harin” .

Thomas is a graduate of Boston University and holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University. He has published a series of articles and reviews and in 1997 he edited the publication “The future of Southeastern Europe” (SIDERIS Publishing).

He is fluent in English and French.

Constantine Karides

Member of Investment Committee

Constantine is a partner in Reed Smith's Financial Industry Group, Office Managing Partner of the firm’s Miami office and the co-lead for On Chain: Reed Smith’s Crypto & Digital Assets Group.

Constantine advises a wide range of U.S. and international clients on private equity transactions, public and private mergers and acquisitions, crypto investments, emerging company/venture capital transactions, investment funds, hedge funds, financing transactions, corporate formation, and corporate governance. His practice also includes taking a lead role in advising companies on accomplishing their short and long term goals in a wide range of fields.  He also has considerable cross-border experience and acts for foreign companies operating in the United States.

John Platsidakis

Member of Investment Committee

John Platsidakis started his career in Bank of America Merill Lynch in Athens, and London.

He later on joined the Angelicoussis Shipping Group and assumed the position of the Managing Director of Anangel Shipping Enterprises.

He also served as Vice President and Director of the Angelicoussis Shipping Group Ltd., and President and Chairman of Maran Dry Shipholding Ltd, Vice President of Maran Tankers Shipholding Ltd and of Maran Ventures Inc. He resigned from the Angelicoussis Group and joined the Costamare Shipping Group as Managing Director in 2020. Mr. Platsidakis was included in the Lloyd’s List 100 Most Influential People in the Shipping Industry in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 and has received the Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Personality of the Year 2018 Award as well as the Seatrade Personality of the Year 2019 Award.

He also served for a number of years as the Chairman of the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (InterCargo). Mr. Platsidakis studied Operational Research (M.Sc.) at the London School of Economics, (LSE) and Economics and Econometrics (M.Sc.) at Southampton University, U.K.

John Papavasileiou

Member of Investment Committee

John Papavasileiou is the Founder of KPC FINANCE, which provides specialized solutions in a wide framework in the financial sector, with an impressive track record on financial management, driving profitable growth and implementing complex corporate restructurings. He is a member of the Board of Intracom Holdings an investment holding company listed on the Athens Stock Exchange and a member of the Board of Real Consulting Group.

In addition, he has served as the CFO of a large group of companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, and has led major successful projects for acquisitions, mergers and capital increases. He has been involved in positions of financial executive leadership over 15 years in companies of different industries, obtaining great experience and know-how. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Patras in Greece.

 

Alexis Efthimiou

Member of Investment Committee

Alexis is a Director at the Brown Oak Family Office, a consulting firm based in Geneva that offer independent investment advisory services.

Alexis leads Brown Oak after serving for more than 10 years in several Swiss based Private and Investment Banks.

He brings with him his expertise in Investment and Wealth Management as well as his Ship Finance experience.

Evi Tsilou

Head of Legal & Compliance 

Evi has advised large institutional investors in some of the largest and most complex transactions that have taken place in the Greek market.

She has extensive experience in advising on IPOs, corporate restructurings and SPOs by companies listed on the Athens Exchange, as well as on combined offerings and private placements. She regularly advises domestic and international investors on complex business transactions in the hospitality, energy, financial services and retail sectors.

Evi is the Head of the Corporate and M&A Department of leading Athens Law Firm Papapolitis & Papapolitis.

Evi holds an LLB from National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and an LLM in Business Law from University of London, King’s College London.

Antonis Karakatsanis

Head of Investor Relations

Antonis is a dynamic professional with a solid background in marketing and entrepreneurship.

Having studied at the American College of Greece, he honed his skills and knowledge in the field.
With valuable experience gained from his tenure at Attica Publications Group in marketing positions, Antonis has demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and brand management.

As the owner of ExpectMore, Digitify, and Bleublancclub companies, he has shown remarkable entrepreneurial acumen, spearheading innovative ventures and driving business growth.

With a passion for excellence and a commitment to delivering exceptional results, Antonis is poised to continue making significant contributions in the business world.

Pavlina Meintani 

Operations Director

Pavlina with over 20 years of experience in the banking sector and in retail operations in large companies such as Piraeus Bank and Opap SA, has held senior positions and successfully managed large teams.

Her extensive background includes overseeing complex processes and driving operational efficiency across various industries. Pavlina has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead teams through challenges, fostering growth and achieving strategic objectives while ensuring the seamless execution of key initiatives.

Pavlina holds a BS in Business administration from The American College of Greece and a MA in Human Resource Management from the University of Westminster in London.

George Protogerelis 

Chief Financial Officer

George is a seasoned finance executive with a track record in risk management, accounting, and finance.

He started his career at Alpha Paragon S.A. and since then has assumed pivotal roles as Chief Financial Officer across various sectors. George later joined Citigrade Capital Limited, where he spearheaded financial strategies in asset management.

Additionally, his tenure at Clarity Shipping and Terra Navis Shipping showcased his adeptness in navigating the complexities of the shipping transportation industry.

He has also held the role of Chief Financial Officer of leading Athens law firm Papapolitis & Papapolitis.

George has held executive board positions at the real-estate, hospitality, shipping and asset management sectors.

George holds a BA in Economics & Business from University of Kent and a MSc in International Economics & Finance from University of Newcastle.

Kelly Niforou

Head Administrator

Kelly Niforou is the Head Administrator at EverExcel, bringing over 10 years of experience in office management, administrative coordination, and operational support. She has a proven track record of streamlining processes, managing complex projects, and fostering efficient workflows in high-pressure environments. At EverExcel, Kelly oversees the administrative functions of the organization, ensuring seamless operations across all departments and supporting the leadership team in executing strategic initiatives. Her dedication to organizational excellence, combined with her ability to adapt and lead in dynamic settings, makes her a valuable asset to the EverExcel team.

Our people

We are a united team of varied and vibrant experts, merging innovation and vision in order to reshape boundaries.

Leadership

Nicholas Papapolitis

Chairman

Nicholas is the Chairman of EverExcel.
He started his career as an associate in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

He has worked with some of the largest global asset management firms on high-end landmark transactions that have taken place in Greece and South Europe.

Nicholas has expertise in originating, structuring, and executing transactions across the capital structure and oversees all the investment strategies of Ever Excel.

He has held board positions in leading listed and privately held organizations in the financial services, real-estate, technology and healthcare industries, as well as board positions in chambers of commerce, non-profit charitable organizations and educational institutions.

These include: American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce (BoD Member and Chair of Finance & Investment Committee), Fifth Down Capital (Board of Advisors), FAMAR AVE (Chairman), Invel Real Estate Partners LLP (Partner and BoD Member), One & Only Resorts (Kea) (Chairman), Prodea Investments REIC (BoD Member), Intralot Group (BoD Member), Intracom Properties (BoD Member), Intracom Ventures (BoD Member), Ygia Polyclinic Hospital (BoD Member), St. Catherines British School (Governor) and The Hellenic Initiative.

Nicholas has been listed in the 100 most influential personalities in the Greek Market for 2021, 2022 and 2023 from the Mononews 100.

Nicholas holds an LLB (Hons) from University College of London (UCL) and an LLM (Merit) from University of London (Queen Mary College).

Eraklis Kyriakides

Vice – Chairman

Eraklis is the Founder and Managing Director of Eraklis N. Kyriakides L.L.C, a full-service law firm and business advisory firm based in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Eraklis has held board positions in leading companies in the airline, technology and construction and development sectors. He is also a Senior Advisor to several international corporate and financial institutions in Europe, Asia and Africa.

He has acted as Leading Counsel to the Board of various domestic and international companies particularly in relation to matters of corporate governance, corporate liability and director’s duties and liabilities.

He holds a LLB from  National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a LLM in International Commercial Law from the University of Leicester.

 

Thomas Varvitsiotis

Member of Investment Committee

Τhomas Varvitsiotis is the president and co-founder of V+O GROUP. 

With almost 20 years of experience in the field of communication, strategic planning and media relations for a large number of companies and organizations of both the public and the private sector in Greece and the U.S.

He has worked as a journalist at a major Greek Daily Political Newspaper (Eleftheros Typos) and from 1993 to 1995 he was the publisher of the monthly international affairs magazine “EMPHASIS”. 

He is also serving as President of the Fletcher Club of Greece, Vice-President of the Lambropoulos Foundation and President of the Urban NGO “Paradeigmatos Harin” .

Thomas is a graduate of Boston University and holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University. He has published a series of articles and reviews and in 1997 he edited the publication “The future of Southeastern Europe” (SIDERIS Publishing).

He is fluent in English and French.

Constantine Karides

Member of Investment Committee

Constantine is a partner in Reed Smith's Financial Industry Group, Office Managing Partner of the firm’s Miami office and the co-lead for On Chain: Reed Smith’s Crypto & Digital Assets Group.

Constantine advises a wide range of U.S. and international clients on private equity transactions, public and private mergers and acquisitions, crypto investments, emerging company/venture capital transactions, investment funds, hedge funds, financing transactions, corporate formation, and corporate governance. His practice also includes taking a lead role in advising companies on accomplishing their short and long term goals in a wide range of fields.  He also has considerable cross-border experience and acts for foreign companies operating in the United States.

John Platsidakis

Member of Investment Committee

John Platsidakis started his career in Bank of America Merill Lynch in Athens, and London.

He later on joined the Angelicoussis Shipping Group and assumed the position of the Managing Director of Anangel Shipping Enterprises.

He also served as Vice President and Director of the Angelicoussis Shipping Group Ltd., and President and Chairman of Maran Dry Shipholding Ltd, Vice President of Maran Tankers Shipholding Ltd and of Maran Ventures Inc. He resigned from the Angelicoussis Group and joined the Costamare Shipping Group as Managing Director in 2020. Mr. Platsidakis was included in the Lloyd’s List 100 Most Influential People in the Shipping Industry in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 and has received the Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Personality of the Year 2018 Award as well as the Seatrade Personality of the Year 2019 Award.

He also served for a number of years as the Chairman of the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (InterCargo). Mr. Platsidakis studied Operational Research (M.Sc.) at the London School of Economics, (LSE) and Economics and Econometrics (M.Sc.) at Southampton University, U.K.

John Papavasileiou

Member of Investment Committee

John Papavasileiou is the Founder of KPC FINANCE, which provides specialized solutions in a wide framework in the financial sector, with an impressive track record on financial management, driving profitable growth and implementing complex corporate restructurings. He is a member of the Board of Intracom Holdings an investment holding company listed on the Athens Stock Exchange and a member of the Board of Real Consulting Group.

In addition, he has served as the CFO of a large group of companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, and has led major successful projects for acquisitions, mergers and capital increases. He has been involved in positions of financial executive leadership over 15 years in companies of different industries, obtaining great experience and know-how. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Patras in Greece.

 

Alexis Efthimiou

Member of Investment Committee

Alexis is a Director at the Brown Oak Family Office, a consulting firm based in Geneva that offer independent investment advisory services.

Alexis leads Brown Oak after serving for more than 10 years in several Swiss based Private and Investment Banks.

He brings with him his expertise in Investment and Wealth Management as well as his Ship Finance experience.

Evi Tsilou

Head of Legal & Compliance 

Evi has advised large institutional investors in some of the largest and most complex transactions that have taken place in the Greek market.

She has extensive experience in advising on IPOs, corporate restructurings and SPOs by companies listed on the Athens Exchange, as well as on combined offerings and private placements. She regularly advises domestic and international investors on complex business transactions in the hospitality, energy, financial services and retail sectors.

Evi is the Head of the Corporate and M&A Department of leading Athens Law Firm Papapolitis & Papapolitis.

Evi holds an LLB from National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and an LLM in Business Law from University of London, King’s College London.

Antonis Karakatsanis

Head of Investor Relations

Antonis is a dynamic professional with a solid background in marketing and entrepreneurship.

Having studied at the American College of Greece, he honed his skills and knowledge in the field.
With valuable experience gained from his tenure at Attica Publications Group in marketing positions, Antonis has demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and brand management.

As the owner of ExpectMore, Digitify, and Bleublancclub companies, he has shown remarkable entrepreneurial acumen, spearheading innovative ventures and driving business growth.

With a passion for excellence and a commitment to delivering exceptional results, Antonis is poised to continue making significant contributions in the business world.

Pavlina Meintani 

Operations Director

Pavlina with over 20 years of experience in the banking sector and in retail operations in large companies such as Piraeus Bank and Opap SA, has held senior positions and successfully managed large teams.

Her extensive background includes overseeing complex processes and driving operational efficiency across various industries. Pavlina has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead teams through challenges, fostering growth and achieving strategic objectives while ensuring the seamless execution of key initiatives.

Pavlina holds a BS in Business administration from The American College of Greece and a MA in Human Resource Management from the University of Westminster in London.

George Protogerelis 

Chief Financial Officer

George is a seasoned finance executive with a track record in risk management, accounting, and finance.

He started his career at Alpha Paragon S.A. and since then has assumed pivotal roles as Chief Financial Officer across various sectors. George later joined Citigrade Capital Limited, where he spearheaded financial strategies in asset management.

Additionally, his tenure at Clarity Shipping and Terra Navis Shipping showcased his adeptness in navigating the complexities of the shipping transportation industry.

He has also held the role of Chief Financial Officer of leading Athens law firm Papapolitis & Papapolitis.

George has held executive board positions at the real-estate, hospitality, shipping and asset management sectors.

George holds a BA in Economics & Business from University of Kent and a MSc in International Economics & Finance from University of Newcastle.

Kelly Niforou

Head Administrator

Kelly Niforou is the Head Administrator at EverExcel, bringing over 10 years of experience in office management, administrative coordination, and operational support. She has a proven track record of streamlining processes, managing complex projects, and fostering efficient workflows in high-pressure environments. At EverExcel, Kelly oversees the administrative functions of the organization, ensuring seamless operations across all departments and supporting the leadership team in executing strategic initiatives. Her dedication to organizational excellence, combined with her ability to adapt and lead in dynamic settings, makes her a valuable asset to the EverExcel team.