Leadership Team
The people behind the partnerships. Decades of maritime experience, guided by a single principle: our clients come first.
Dimitrios Koukas
Chief Executive Officer
With over four decades in the maritime industry, Dimitrios Koukas founded Optima Shipping Services in 1981 with a singular vision: to provide genuinely independent shipbroking advice, free from the conflicts of interest that defined the era's large brokerage houses.
Under his leadership, Optima has grown from a single desk in Athens to a global operation spanning five offices across three continents. The firm's expansion into ten integrated service lines, from Sale & Purchase and Newbuildings to ESG advisory and cybersecurity, reflects his belief that the modern shipowner deserves a partner, not just a broker.
Recognized by Lloyd's List among the Top 10 Shipbrokers globally, Dimitrios remains actively involved in the industry through BIMCO, the Hellenic Shipbrokers Association, and maritime education initiatives across Greece.
"In forty-three years, the market has taught us one thing: the shipowners who succeed are those who choose partners, not brokers."
Senior Leadership
Georgios Alexopoulos
Chief Operating Officer
Office: Athens
Over 25 years in maritime operations, overseeing Optima's global office network and operational excellence across all service lines.
Nikos Papadimitriou
Head of Sale & Purchase
Office: Athens
Two decades of S&P experience with deep expertise in dry bulk and container markets. Trusted advisor to leading Greek and European owners.
Elena Konstantinidou
Head of Newbuildings
Office: Athens
Specialist in newbuilding contracts with major Asian shipyards. Over 200 newbuilding orders supervised across bulk, tanker, and gas segments.
Rajesh Krishnamurthy
Head of Ship Recycling
Office: Dubai
Pioneer in responsible ship recycling. Overseeing 1,500+ recycling projects with a commitment to Hong Kong Convention standards.
Maria Stavrou
Head of Research & Intelligence
Office: Athens
Former chief analyst at a leading classification society. Drives Optima's proprietary market research and weekly intelligence reports.
Andreas Makris
Head of ESG & Carbon Solutions
Office: Athens
Leading Optima's sustainability advisory practice, helping clients navigate CII, EEXI, EU ETS, and decarbonization pathways.
Thomas Chen
Director, Optima Cyber
Office: Singapore
Cybersecurity veteran with 15 years in maritime technology. Built Optima Cyber from inception to a leading maritime cybersecurity practice.
Ahmed Al-Rashidi
Regional Director — Dubai
Office: Dubai
Anchors Optima's Middle East operations, bridging European and Asian markets from Dubai's strategic crossroads position.
Lim Wei Jie
Regional Director — Singapore
Office: Singapore
Leads Southeast Asian growth strategy with expertise in tanker and gas carrier markets. 18 years of regional shipping experience.
Zhang Yufei
Regional Director — Shanghai
Office: Shanghai
Deep relationships with Chinese shipowners and yards. Instrumental in Optima's expansion into the Chinese newbuilding and S&P markets.
The Optima Way
We hire specialists, not generalists. Every desk at Optima is led by someone who has spent a career mastering their discipline. But what connects our people across five offices and ten service lines is a shared belief: the best deals happen when trust comes before transaction.