Nikos Pateras

Nikolas D. Pateras is a seventh-generation Greek shipowner and founder of Contships Management Inc. He was born on August 26, 1963 in Athens, Greece, and is originally from the island of Oinousses. He has 3 children, Anastasia, Diamantis and John. Nikolas D. Pateras is a graduate of the London School of Foreign Trade and the City of London Polytechnic where he completed his shipping studies in 1984. He served his military service in the Greek Navy from 1984 to 1986. Prior to the creation of Contships Management Inc. he was active in the shipping industry as Chairman of Pacific & Atlantic Corporation (P&A) since 1993. The company’s establishment had followed the Pateras Brothers Ltd. firm which was founded by his father Diamantis and his uncle John in 1957. The fleet under the management of Pacific & Atlantic Corporation reached 50 vessels in 2002. Under the leadership of Nikolas D. Pateras, the fleet of Contships Management Inc. consists of 47 feeder containerships. Today, it is the largest independent operator of feeder containerships with a capacity of 900-1,500 TEUs. Between 2008 and 2010, Nikolas D. Pateras was President and shareholder of the Greek football club Panathinaikos FC. Under his presence at the helm of the team, Panathinaikos F.C. won both the Greek Championship and Greek Cup in the 2009-2010 season. Serving the motto "shipping and benevolence", Nikolas D. Pateras founded the "Nikolas D. Pateras" Public Benefit Foundation. Throughout its years of operation, the Foundation has focused on supporting initiatives and actions related to Health, Culture, Maritime Heritage, Education, and the support of society. The family of Nikolas D. Pateras is inextricably linked to shipping for over 7 generations. According to a family tree recorded in 1770, Ioannis Pateras is considered to be the family's forefather, while the family's maritime and shipping activity is attested from the 19th century. Ioannis Pateras had 5 sons, Nikolaos, Georgios, Konstantis, Elias and Michael.