Dimitrios Koukas, Chairman & Group CEO of Optima Shipping Services LTD with offices in Athens / Shanghai / Dubai / Istanbul. He has over 30 years of experience in the industry, global awareness and a strong track record in New Buildings, Second hand sales and Demolition, whereby he managed to sell well over 1000 Vessels so far in his Career as a broker.
In 2019 he co-founded Optima-X and Enso XL Maritime Accelerator, a hub for Maritime Innovation in Athens. Mr. Koukas studied Marine Engineering and Naval architecture and continued with Post Graduate studies in International Shipping. Thereafter he joined the Hellenic Navy in order to provide his National Services and served 1 year as assistant to the Commander in the Submarines Command whereby he was decorated for his Services and then he served 1 year under the orders of the Vice Admiral of the Hellenic Navy General Staff.
During his career he also studied in parallel and he strengthened his knowledge with Executive Education Studies in Harvard Business School, focusing on Private Equities and Venture Capital. He is also co-founder and elected as Vice President in the Greek Shipping-Shipbroking Companies Association and has been invited and acting as Panelist Broker for the Baltic Exchange for the past 15 years. Also he has been leading various Shipping Related Companies and acted as coordinator in various Shipping Projects whereby he provided Turn Key Solutions to Investors who wanted to Explore Shipping Opportunities. He is a Member of the BOD in quite a few companies acting as an advisor.
Dimitrios Koukas is actively involved into Yachting with Commercially Managed and Chartered Mega Yachts and he’s been very sensitive with matters such as Corporate Social Responsibility and especially within the Greek underprivileged Community.