About the Editor

Costas Th. Grammenos, CBE, BA (Athens), MSc (Bangor), DSc (City), FCIB, Hon FIMarEST, FRSA is Professor of Shipping, Trade and Finance; Pro Vice-Chancellor of City University London and Deputy Dean of its Cass Business School, where he founded the Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance in 1983 (renamed The Costas Grammenos International Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance in April 2007). The Centre carries out research through members of its staff and PhD students and cultivates international dialogue by formal and informal meetings. He designed two world-class Masters of Science: Shipping, Trade and Finance introduced in 1984; and Logistics, Trade and Finance commenced in 1997 (since 2008 known as MSc Supply Chain, Trade & Finance); while the MSc in Energy, Trade and Finance was introduced in 2003.

In 1977 he established credit analysis and policy in bank shipping finance which has been applied by many international banks; and, in 1978, published his monograph Bank Finance for Ship Purchase (University of Wales Press), which formed the key principles in shipping finance. In addition, since mid-1980s, he concentrated on and promoted the utilisation of international capital markets for raising funds for shipping companies through his lectures, teaching at University, conferences and since early 1990s through his published research. In 2006 he was appointed by the Greek government as President of the Managing Board of the International Hellenic University in Thessaloniki, Greece, with the mandate to establish and operate it. His research interests are in Bank Shipping Finance, and Capital Markets.

In 1999 Costas Grammenos was awarded by City University London the highest academic accolade, the Doctor of Science degree (DSc) for creating, through his published research, shipping finance as a new academic discipline.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alexander S Onassis Public Benefit Foundation; a Founding Trustee of the Institute of Marine Engineers Memorial Fund; and a Non-executive member of the Board, Marfin Investment Group (MIG).

He is Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers; Honorary Fellow, Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technology; Fellow of Royal Society of Arts and Member of the Baltic Exchange; Member of the American Bureau of Shipping; Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights; Freeman of the City of London; Founder and Chairman of the City of London Biennial Meetings; Visiting Professor at the University of Antwerp; and he was President of IAME (19972002).

He was 1998 Seatrade Personality of the Year; in 2008 he was awarded the prize of Distinguished Personality for his outstanding contribution to the shipping industry by the Association of Banking and Financial Executives of Hellenic Shipping; and in 2009 was awarded the Achievement in Education at the Lloyds List Shipping Awards; he was made OBE (Officer of the British Empire) in 1994 for his contribution to international shipping and finance and appointed CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 2008 for services to teaching and research.