Iraklis Prokopakis, Kostis Tsalpatouros, George Avlonitis, Angelos Pantouvakis and Rafael Melachrinos
Posidonia 2012: The 2nd International Forum on Shipping Marketing & Management
This one was yet another one of the many Posidonia 2012 events – we still have more to put up in the site, and took place on 8th of June at Athens Metropolitan Expo Centre’s Posidonia Conference Hall. Elena Kritikou reports:
The speakers, all professionals and the forum procedure was very interactive and vivid. Given also that this was the last day of Posidonia as well as the theme of the forum, the house was bursting to its seams! Did I hear you say …Overcapacity…?
There were two main sessions; the TQM in Shipping (Total Quality Management) and Marketing in Shipping
The pre-launch one, focused on Total Quality Management an issue that lately pre-occupy us a lot! It was introduced by Panos Zachariadis, technical director of Atlantic Bulk Carriers Management Ltd. who talked about the ISM standard and whether it is helpful. Zachariadis passed the floor to Dr. Evangelos Psomas, who as an expert, talked about “Total Quality Management in the pursue of business excellence”.
All marketeers on stage; the participants from the morning and afternoon sessions
The first session ended with a dialogue – mock-style exchange between Captain Makis Kourtesis*1 and Nikos Vougioukas*2 on “system’s vs. human capabilities in shipping” who exchanges many arguments and fueled the other panelists and the audience for the open discussion that followed. Yanis Syrigos, CFO, Iolcos Hellenic Maritime Enterprises Co Ltd, made the concluding remarks. Stavros Meidanis, LRQA and Marine Business Centre Manager for Greece and East European Area, had an interesting paper too on “Total Quality Management in the pursue of Business Excellence”.
Following the light launch and coffee networking, the second part on “Marketing in Shipping” was very interesting too. The first speaker was Angelos Patouvakis; Patouvakis, Chairman of the European Institute of Shipping & Transport, made a presentation on the major points and results of the survey “The Marketing Orientation of the Shipping Companies”. Amongst other points, he stressed that: the quicker a company adopts marketing techniques, the better results it receives. The dialogue that followed was absolutely excellent. Iraclis Procopakis*3 and Rafael Melachrinos*4 crossed their swords on whether marketing principles are applicable in shipping. The concluding remarks were made by Costis Tsalpatouros, legal man by academia and now over Director and MBoD from Allied Ship Broking Inc., one of the world’s best sales and purchase entities; simple and to the point!
It remains to be seen what the next forum will have to tackle, but I guess the results of the current forum should be re-addressed and see how this sector of business stands; it is the world’s most difficult field and if you don’t do it excellent, don’t do it at all! Indeed Navigating through turbulent times. Is it better being Heretical or Orthodox? does make sense!
The event was organized by the European Institute of Shipping & Transport, The University of Piraeus and the Greek marketing Academy, with communication sponsors NAFTIKA CHRONKA, Naftemporiki and naftemporiki.gr –
- Makis Kourtesis*1 Owner & managing director of Libra Shipping S.A,
- Nikos Vougioukas*2 3V Business consultants and vice-president of the Association of Hellenic Shipping Bankers & Executives
- Iraclis Procopakis*3 Senior vice president and COO Danaos Corporation
- Rafael Melachrinos*4 Owner & Director, Rainbow Ship Management
P.S… Think and imagine of say the qualities and the caliber to be an S and P broker. Just write down what one broker should know, possess and develop in any given market condition, particularly in this turbulent world with uncertainty and volatile attitude; not to mention the marketing capabilities of a banker… in selling new products for shipping…. Or a ship’s agent or a shipmanager…or a firm of solicitors or chartered accountants! Then one can see why the Greeks and shipping people thrive and marvel in the shipping world, and deserve the best, plus respect!
