George Xiradakis

George Xiradakis is Founder and Managing Director of XRTC Business Consultants. He graduated from the Nautical Marine Academy of Aspropyrgos-Athens and holds a diploma in Commercial Operations from City of London Polytechnic and an MSc in Maritime Studies from the University of Wales.

In his banking career (1991-1998) he served as Vice President of Credit Lyonnais Shipping Group and Head of European Shipping Finance activities, and as Head of Greek, Indian and Middle East Shipping. In 1999 he founded XRTC Business Consultants and has been its Managing Director since. XRTC acted as Commercial Representative of the French banks Credit Lyonnais (up to 2004) and Natixis (up to 2008), and since 2009 has worked closely with the Chinese ship finance market, signing a Financial Consultancy Agreement with China Development Bank in 2011. XRTC won the Greek Shipping Financier of the Year award at the Lloyd's List Greek Shipping Awards 2010.

Mr. Xiradakis is a member of the Board of Directors of DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) and of Paragon Shipping Inc (NASDAQ: PRGN). He also serves as President of the Board of Governors of the International Propeller Club of the United States - International Port of Piraeus Board, is General Secretary of the Association of Banking and Shipping Executives of Hellenic Shipping, and a Board Member of the China-Greece Friendship Association, among other affiliations.