Press Release: Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc.
May 15, 2001
PIRAEUS, Greece -- Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc. (Nasdaq: ROCLF; EASDAQ: ROCL) announced yesterday the appointment
of John Pantazis as Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Pantazis holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, with special emphasis on marketing and finance and a BSc.
in Hotel Administration from Cornell University, where he graduated with honors.
Mr. Pantazis' career has been almost exclusively in the hotel and cruise industries. In 1989 he was appointed Vice
President Development for Meridien Hotels in the Paris head office, before becoming Vice President Sales and Marketing
in Abu Dhabi, responsible for the marketing and sales of ten Meridien hotels throughout the Middle East. He moved
to the Amathus Group in Cyprus in 1994, where he was General Manager of the Aviation Division, before being promoted
to Chief Executive Officer of the Group, which includes three luxury hotels, as well as Aviation, Shipping and
Tourism Divisions. Since May 2000, Mr. Pantazis has worked for the Louis Group in Cyprus, where he was General
Manager Development of Louis Hotels, before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Louis Cruise Lines in November
2000, a position he left to join Royal Olympic Cruises.
In announcing the new appointment, Harry Haralambopoulos, Chairman of the Board, stated: ``We are extremely pleased
that Mr. Pantazis will be joining the Company as Chief Executive, as he brings with him a wealth of experience
in the hotel and cruise businesses and, having graduated so successfully from both Harvard and Cornell, will also
bring management practices that will greatly assist the Company in achieving its stated commitment to continuously
improve the cruise product offered to its passengers and to increase future profitability.''
Royal Olympic Cruises is the largest cruise operator in the Eastern Mediterranean, owning and operating a fleet
of eight overnight cruise ships.
Some of the statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking as defined and permitted by SEC.
This press release is for information only and should not be considered investment advice.
SOURCE: Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc.