Management

Holger Manuel Ruether

Chief Executive Officer

Holger Ruether joined Uniteam Marine as a manager in 2011. Within a year he initiated the transformation, succession and re-alignment of the Group, and in 2014 was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Uniteam Group of Companies – encompassing Uniteam Marine, Uniteam Training and Uniteam Investment.  

Holger Ruether is responsible for strategy development and monitoring and Group-wide business development. He leads and supports the managing directors of the Group’s business units.

Entering ship management in 2005, Holger Ruether’s career has included working in various departments for a well-established ship owner as well as the sale and purchase of dry tonnage with a ship broking firm.

John Hadjiparaskevas

Managing Director

John Hadjiparaskevas joined Uniteam Marine as Operations Manager in 2001 and was appointed Managing Director in 2009.

John Hadjiparaskevas is responsible for formulating and implementing the business strategy of Uniteam Marine across the globe and to ensure the development, growth and smooth operation in the company.

John Hadjiparaskevas has over 25 years’ experience in managerial positions with ship owning and ship management companies. He holds a Bachelor degree in Engineering and a Master degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance from Cass Business School. He is a Fellow of the Institute of the Chartered Shipbrokers and a past Chairman of the Cyprus Branch of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. For the last seven years he is serving on the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber and currently is the Chairman of the Chamber’s Law committee.

Dr Andreas Papanisiforou

Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Andreas Papanisiforou joined Uniteam Marine as financial controller in 2009 and was appointed chief financial officer of Uniteam Group of Companies in 2014. Andreas additionally serves the role of deputy chief executive officer as of 2022.

Working on new business planning and financial strategy, Andreas plays a key role in managing strategic alliances and liaising and engaging with Uniteam Marine stakeholders. Among his responsibilities, Andreas leads Uniteam Global Business Services in support of Uniteam Marine across key business areas, including finance, information technology, human resources, and corporate communications.

Andreas is a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus. He has Bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Accounting, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Doctorate in Business Administration.

Steven Illman

Group Finance Director

Steven Illman joined Uniteam Marine as Finance Manager in 2001, having previously worked in various senior international trade and finance roles within the shipping industry and audit profession.

In his role as Group Finance Director, Steven Illman is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Uniteam Group of Companies’ finance operations, including accounting, finance, treasury and credit control.

Steven Illman is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.

Nicolas Assimenos

Chief Commercial Officer

Nicolas Assimenos joined Uniteam Marine as the Operations Manager in 2013 and he was appointed as the Business Development Manager in 2017. In 2019 he has been promoted to Business Development Director.

Nicolas Assimenos was responsible for implementing the marketing strategy and ensuring alignment and coordination of Uniteam Marine Business Development activities. In 2022 he took over the position of Chief Commercial Officer of Uniteam Group of Companies (UGOC).

Nicolas Assimenos started his career in the shipping industry in 1999 and he has worked for a number of well-established ship owning and ship management companies both in Cyprus and in Germany. He holds a Bachelor degree in Economics and a Master degree in International Transport. He is currently undertaking a Doctorate Degree in Professional Studies at the University of Middlesex, London and is a part time lecturer of Bachelor and Master Shipping courses of the Cyprus University of Technology.

Nicolas Assimenos is also a Fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and a former member of the ICS Cyprus Branch committee.

Richard Knighton

Fleet Personnel Director

Richard Knighton joined Uniteam Marine in 2015 as Fleet Personnel Deputy Director and since his promotion to the position of Fleet Personnel Director in January 2020 he is responsible for Uniteam Marine’s worldwide crewing activities across all fleets. He also directs the newly established Uniteam Cruise Services activities.

With a Maritime degree, Richard has 20 years of wide ranging international experience in Crew Management, Recruitment, Talent Management and  Career Development across the wet & dry sectors having spent 11 years working for Shell UK, involved with managing their LNG fleet and various nationalisation projects.

Michalis Papaioannou

Technical Director

Michalis Papaioannou joined Uniteam Marine as a Technical Director in January 2023, following similar role with a shipowning company in Cyprus. Michalis is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer.

He has operational and managerial experience of a wide range of vessel types – container vessels, bulk carriers and tanker vessels – including preparation and attendance in dry-dockings in shipyards in all Continents.
He also holds a Diploma in Ship’s Superintendency and is an active member of technical Committees of Cyprus Shipping Chamber Marine Committee, DNV Cyprus Technical Committee and ABS European Technical Committee.

Michalis is a qualified contract negotiator for new buildings and major conversions and a qualified Internal Auditor for ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2015 and ISO 50001:2018 (Energy Management) systems. He has also attended the electronic main engine ME-C and ME-B courses by the MAN Academy in Copenhagen and Piraeus and he is a Maritime Resource Management Training Facilitator.

Capt. Thomas Reppenhagen

Sales and Client Relations Director

Thomas Reppenhagen joined the company in 1997 as Chief Officer, serving on container vessels under Uniteam Marine management. He was promoted to Master in 1998 and joined Uniteam Marine’s head office in Cyprus in 1999 as Fleet Personnel Manager. In 2004, he was appointed Fleet Personnel Director. After successfully heading the Fleet Personnel Function for over twenty years, he took over the role as Sales and Client Relations Director in January 2020.

With a Master Mariner background, a degree as “Diplom-Wirtschaftsingenieur fuer Seeverkehr” and two decades of shore-based practical experience in Crew and Ship management, Thomas Reppenhagen brings over 30 years of valuable shipping experience to Uniteam Marine.

Tim Charalambous

Office Director, Uniteam Marine Limited

Tim Charalambous joined Uniteam Marine in 2009 and has been leading the Operations Function since 2009. As of 2014, he has additionally taken on the position of Office Director for the Cyprus office.
Involved in the commercial operations of the managed fleet, Tim Charalambous also deals with insurance policies for vessel crew and handles negotiations with relevant unions. He is involved in the preparation of offers and quotations for new and existing business development.
Tim Charalambous holds a Bachelor Degree in Maritime Studies and Maritime Law with Honors from the University of Plymouth and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.

Jens Schultz

Office Director, Uniteam Marine Shipping GmbH

Jens Schultz began his career with Uniteam Marine Shipping GmbH as Deputy Head of Accounts in 2009, becoming Head of Accounts in 2011. In 2013, he was appointed Officer Director in Hamburg, where he is responsible for the smooth operation of the office including administrative and legal matters.
Following an apprenticeship as a ship mechanic, Jens Schultz holds a diploma in Business Law from Wismar University of Applied Sciences. Before joining Uniteam Marine, he worked for nine years with tax consultants and auditors within the German shipping industry.

Zaw Pe Win

Office Director, Uniteam Marine Pte Ltd

Zaw Pe Win joined Uniteam Marine as an apprentice seaman in 1993. After gaining experience as a seafarer for several years, he started his career ashore as Crewing Manager at Uniteam Marine’s head office in Cyprus.
Due to fleet expansion, Zaw Pe Win was transferred to Singapore in 2004 to take care of Uniteam Marine managed vessels calling Port of Singapore. He established the Uniteam Marine office in Singapore and was appointed Office Director, a position he holds until today. Zaw Pe Win focuses on business development and service expansion within the regional maritime industry.

Capt. Than Oo

Office Director, Uniteam Marine (Yangon) Limited

Than Oo’s career began in 1980 as a cadet onboard one of the vessels managed by Uniteam Marine. As a result of his drive and demonstration of leadership, Than Oo was promoted through the ranks to the position of Master.
Than Oo joined the Yangon office in 1994 as Office Director. As part of the Executive Management team of the Yangon office, he handles legal and administrative matters, and ensures the smooth operation of the office. He is also the local head of the fleet personnel function.
Than Oo holds a Master of Science (Physics) and Diploma of Maritime Law.

Andreas Schantz

Office Director, Uniteam Marine (Yangon) Limited

Andreas Schantz joined the Uniteam Marine Yangon office in 2011 as Office Director Assistant. As part of the local Executive Management team he is responsible for ensuring a smooth operation and handling administrative and legal matters. Andreas Schantz is also responsible for local financial matters.
Andreas Schantz began his career as a banker at Raiffeisen und Volksbank Dahn. He was educated at Wirtschaftsgymnasium Pirmasens and the Steinbeis University Berlin, and holds a Bachelor Degree in Management and Finance.

Capt. Thet Naing

Office Director, Uniteam Marine (Yangon) Limited

Thet Naing joined the Uniteam Marine Yangon office in 1998 as Quality Management Representative, following 16 years working his way from apprentice to Master Mariner aboard various ships under Uniteam Marine management.
As part of the local Executive Management team, Thet Naing is responsible for the smooth operation and handling of local administrative and legal matters. He is also the local head of the QSE function.

Maksym Kostin

Office Director, Uniteam Ukraine, Uniteam Marine Limited

Maksym Kostin began his career with Uniteam Marine in 2002 as a Second Officer and joined Uniteam Marine’s Cyprus office as a Crew Manager in 2005. In 2007, he was tasked with establishing a Uniteam Marine subsidiary office in Ukraine and has since then led the office and his team. Maksym Kostin is responsible for the smooth operation and handling of local administrative and legal matters. He is also the local head of the Fleet Personnel function.