AdvanFort Names Greek Maritime Commander To Head Business Development Section

The maritime security leader AdvanFort Company has announced the appointment as its business development director of former Greek Navy Lt. Commander Nicholas-Andrew Iliopoulos, a master mariner who for nearly a decade served as the personal liaison of HM the late King Hussein Bin Talal of Jordan to the seafaring community.

“Nicholas Iliopoulos’s selection literally covers the waterfront as well as those seas of opportunity on distant shores,” said Captain William H. Watson, AdvanFort’s president.  “With more than 50 years of service, focusing not only on the bottom line but equally on the rights andprotections of seafarers, having Nicholas on board puts a name and a face to maritime industry demands for both quality management and state-of-the-art standards.”

“As AdvanFort grows ever more important on the global maritime stage, in areas running from port and terminal security to counter-piracy, having someone who is a true legend our community as our head of business development is a real honor,” Mr. Watson added.

As chief of business development Iliopoulos will initially focus on AdvanFort’s aggressive marketing strategy in Greece, as well as in the Asia-Pacific region, especially China.

Since 2009, Iliopoulos has been a resident instructor at the Dalian Maritime University in China in addition to being an international representative for Videotel Maritime International. In each capacity, the commander proved the value of his own often-quoted remark that: “The bright idea favors the prepared mind.”

Iliopoulos also covered the Asia-Pacific region for customers’ calling vessels, and establishing and maintaining a network of key Chinese entities.

Receiving the accolades of colleagues and business representatives around the world, Iliopoulos is perhaps best remembered for his nearly 10 years of service to King Hussein, being directly responsible for all matters related to the sea and related institutions, including that country’s National Line and the monarch’s pleasure mega-yacht (Royal Yachts).

“The prow is where one needs not only to talk the talk, but also to walk the walk, and Nicholas is a born leader who commands respect not just for his rank, but just as importantly, who he is as a person,” Captain Watson noted.