John N. Cotzias was born in 1965. He graduated from Athens College High School in 1984, and graduated in 1988 with a BSc in Economics from Buckingham University (UK). He then acquired his MSc in Shipping Trade and Finance at the City University Cass Business School (UK), graduating in 1990. Upon completing his university studies he went to serve the Hellenic Navy Special Forces as an officer in the Command Center from 1990-1992.

Upon completing his military requirements he commenced his career at “N. Cotzias (Agencies) Ltd” in 1992 Port Agency Operations, handling all naval ship calls and in 1993 worked for “Blue Flag Navigation” as head analyst in the Finance Department, and then as Manager of Cost Control and Financial Planning Department with responsibilities of the financial control & contract management of various new building contracts in Constanza, Galatz & Mangalia (Romania). From 1995 until 1996, he worked in “London Tankers Chartering” in the UK as the Procurement & Financial Advisor to the President & CEO.

In 1996 he rejoined the family business as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of N. Cotzias Shipping Group. From 2003 until Aug 2004 he undertook the responsibility of managing the Greek Office of SMIT HEAVY LIFT EUROPE BV that assisted in the construction of the Rion/Antirion Bridge in Greece. From 2001 until beginning of 2011 he setup N. Cotzias Shipping Consultants (NCSC), a well reputed specialist in market reporting, shipping analysis and market observation. From 2009 until 2011 he executed his vision and became the producer and co-host of Greek TV’s first regular weekly Shipping Program aired live on Greek public TV. The idea of enabling the leading Greek Industry to have a TV Voice initially started with “SBC TV” & then moved on to “Channel 9 Business TV”.

In Mar 2011 N. Cotzias Shipping the oldest broking house in Greece, merged with Intermodal Shipbrokers one of the leading and most active Athens and Shanghai based shipbroking companies. This was the first ever merger between Greek Shipbroking Houses, combining history, tradition know how and remarkable performance.

John is married with Maria-Evgenia Kosmopoulos a Doctor in Archaeology and has two daughters.