Americas News
Aegean's Dimitris Melissanidis Stays on List of the 100 Most Influential People in Shipping
Aegean Marine Petroleum Network [NYSE: ANW] founder Dimitris Melissanidis has once again appeared on Lloyd's Lists' ranking of the top 100 most influential figures in the shipping industry, but for 2014 slipped three places to number 97 following a tumultuous last quarter of the year for the bunker industry thanks to the collapse of OW Bunker.
Melissanidis clocked in last year at number 94, and again in 2012 at number 82.
The company had been one of OW Bunker's creditors, leading to an exposure of $7.8 million, but Aegean said the amount was "fully recoverable."
However, OW's demise has also placed Aegean in a favourable position to move in on now vacated territory.
"OW’s mainly intermediary role and the painful fashion of its demise are likely to prompt customers to be more cautious in future about who they deal with, and that could see an enhanced share of the market for physical suppliers, like Aegean," wrote Lloyd's List.
Also featured on the top 100 list for 2014 is Vitol SA director Paul Thomas, a top figure in another company which has also been active post-OW Bunker.
Cockett Marine Oil, a join venture of Vitol, has reportedly scooped up more than 10 ex-OW Bunker employees in China.
Aegean announced earlier this month that it would be taking over a large portion of OW Bunker's former operations in Los Angeles. expanding its physical supply operation to the U.S. West Coast.
