John A. Xylas is the President and CEO of Ariston Navigation Corp., and Melissa Shipping Company.

He graduated from Athens College in 1982 and from the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Economics in 1986, where he also attended a number of business courses at Wharton School. In 1987 he completed, a 9-month Executive Account Officers' program at Citicorp’s training center in NYC.

Following his father's unexpected death, he returned to Greece assuming the running of Astron Maritime SA, a family business managing twenty bulk-carriers. He later founded Ariston Navigation Corp., specializing in dry bulkers and containers, and Melissa Shipping Company, specializing in the construction and operation of Pneumatic Cement Carriers. Today the Group manages a fleet of 15 vessels.

He is a member of the American Bureau of Shipping, Lloyd’s Register’s  Hellenic National Committee, member of the Board of the Union of Greek Shipowners for a 4^th term, Vice President of the Board of Helmepa and has served two terms as President of the Piraeus Marine Club.