John A. Xylas

John A. Xylas (JAX) is the President and CEO of Ariston Navigation Corp., Melissa Shipping Company and Pyrsos Managing Co., all parts of the Xylas Group.

Graduated from Athens College in 1982 and joined the Athens University Law school, majoring in Economics. In 1984 he transferred to the University of Pennsylvania studying Economics and graduated in 1986, where he also attended a number of business courses at Wharton School.

In July 1986 he joined Citicorp’s training center in New York, where he completed a 9-month Executive Account Officers’ program.

Following his father’s unexpected death, he returned to Greece in 1987 assuming the running of Astron Maritime SA, a family business managing twenty bulk-carriers.

In 1988 he founded Pyrsos Managing Co. a ship-management company specializing in Bulk-Carriers, in 2002 Ariston Navigation Corp., specializing in Container and Project-Cargo vessels, and in 2003 Melissa Shipping Company, specializing in the construction and operation of Pneumatic Cement Carriers.

JAX completed his military service in the Greek Navy in 1992. He was born in 1963 and is the father of four sons. 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 3^rd term, Vice President of the Board of Helmepa and has served two terms as President of the Piraeus Marine Club, where he is currently the Vice-President.