Bezantakou becomes first woman to lead Propeller Club Piraeus

Danae Bezantakou has been elected president of the International Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus, becoming the first woman to lead the organisation in its 91-year history. Bezantakou, CEO of Navigator Shipping Consultants, came first in the Club’s elections on June 29, receiving 414 votes, before the new Board of Governors was formally constituted on July 1. The new administration will serve a three-year term from June 2026 to June 2029, with the board combining long-serving members and new faces. Out of the 16 members of the new Board of Governors, 10 have served in previous terms, while six are joining for the first time, in what the Club described as a balance between experience and renewal. Bezantakou succeeds Costis Frangoulis, having previously served for three consecutive terms as First Vice President and Secretary General of the Club. The new Executive Committee was elected unanimously and consists of Bezantakou as president, Christos Timagenis as first vice president, Dorothea Ioannou as second vice president, Theofilos Xenakoudis as secretary general and Panos Zafet as treasurer. The board is completed by governors Sifis Vardinoyannis, Andreas Giakoumelos, George Efstratiadis, Yannis Kotzias, Louisa Moschou, Angeliki Xylaki, Dimitris Patrikios, Konstantinos Stampedakis, Philippos-Alexandros Tsangridis Panagopoulos, Akis Tsirigakis and Maria Hatzioannou. Speaking after her election, Bezantakou said assuming the presidency was “a special honour and a great responsibility”, describing the Propeller Club of Piraeus as a historic institution that has served shipping for almost a century, while strengthening Greek-American relations and promoting cooperation, contribution and extroversion. She thanked the Club’s members for their trust, as well as the governors for their unanimous support, saying that this confidence was both “the greatest strength” and “the greatest commitment” for her new term. At the same time, Bezantakou paid tribute to previous administrations, and particularly to the seven-year presidency of Frangoulis, saying she had been fortunate to serve alongside him on the Management Committee. “With respect for the legacy of those who came before us, but also with deep faith in the power of our Board of Governors, we want to further develop the International Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus, as a point of reference for the maritime community,” she said in a separate statement on her personal platform. She added that, for her, shipping is “above all about people, relationships and synergies”, saying this is the philosophy she wants the Club to serve more actively in the years ahead. Frangoulis, who is also International president of the International Propeller Club, described the election as a historic moment for the Piraeus organisation. He congratulated Bezantakou and the new board, saying he was confident she would lead the Club into the next chapter of its history, while adding that he would continue to support its international role and the promotion of Greek shipping worldwide.