Zephyr Maritime Launches to Serve Maritime Industry

May 2, 2016 – Executive search firm Zephyr Maritime has been launched in London focusing solely on mid to senior level shore based appointments within the maritime industry.

Behind the initiative is founder Alexander G. Tsavliris, who has four generations of maritime heritage behind him and a successful background in recruiting.

Mr. Tsavliris began his search career in 2000 with Hudson Global and later served as a principal consultant with United Media Entertainment Group, where he was responsible for the full life cycle of senior level appointments across a range of disciplines within the sports, media and entertainment markets. There, he successfully delivered projects in the U.K., continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

In 2007, Mr. Tsavliris left the executive search field to work for his family-owned business, Tsavliris Salvage Group, a professional marine salvor dedicated to saving life and property at sea and to protecting the marine environment from accident-related pollution. There, he initiated and cultivated relationships with a broad spectrum of maritime businesses, placing particular emphasis on ship owning / managing companies, marine insurance and the legal community.

Zephyr will work on appointments for shipping companies, as well as for P&I clubs and insurers, shipbroking houses, classification societies, technical companies, professional bodies and other maritime organizations. The firm’s current projects range from CFO to senior underwriter to a team leader for a bunker trader.

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“I have yet to come across another business that shares my philosophy and overall affinity to the industry,” said Mr. Tsavliris. “By working with Zephyr you work with me, and I don’t want to dilute that dynamic. I am passionate about what I do and the industry in which I operate. We believe in taking on fewer clients but paying more attention to their needs.”

Although many sectors of shipping are currently enduring difficult market conditions, forcing some companies to retrench, this is not necessarily a bad time for the emergence of a search firm to focus on it, said Mr. Tsavliris.

“Relationships are often easier to build when there is little or no imminent business. There is added time to really listen to what a company or candidate has to say and to understand their needs. That is a very important ingredient in successful recruiting.”

Mr. Tsavliris continued: “We look forward to talking with maritime companies that share our philosophy and approach, and who appreciate the idea of working closely with an experienced, niche operator that can help identify and satisfy their requirements.”

In recent months, the U.K. has seen a slew of new executive search firms opening for business, including these:

Executive search veteran David Winterburn has launched Burns Tempest, a senior level executive search and selection business that will specialize in a range of assignments throughout the U.K. Mr. Winterburn has experience in a number of sectors, including food and drink; banking and finance; legal; construction; manufacturing / engineering; pharmaceutical / scientific; IT; business services; and renewable energy;

Macdonald Lewis Associates Limited was launched to provide executive search services to the life sciences industry. The firm is led by life sciences talent management veteran Susan Macdonald;

Former FiveTen Group chief executive officer, John Rose, launched executive search firm Vered Consulting. Mr. Rose has spent the past 12 years in a variety of CEO positions, spanning a wide variety of business types from a private equity-backed group and U.K. AIM-listed company, through to the U.K. division of a NASDAQ-listed business;