George Panagiotidis Resume

2009-2010
Ultimate Challenge Latin America S.A. ( www.ucmma.com)

Position: director/ consultant (6 month duration contract in Panama)

Founded in late 2009 in Panama in order to bring the British leading Mixed Martial Arts Franchise (Ultimate Challenge UK) in Latin America. As a director/consultant I was responsible for

• Setting up Company, and doing feasibility study on the success of the franchise in Latin America using as a base of operations Panama City – the franchise was to expand to Colombia, Costa Rica & Brazil.
• Contacting local media(Television Networks) , and production companies for the rights of transmission in the local media and publications. As well as local promotions and P.R. companies.
• Securing sponsorships for the event.
• Securing local fighters and sponsorship from local gyms.
• Organizing logistics- production team , fighters ,catering , transport


2002- 2009
Tropical LTD (UK)

Position: CEO

I founded Tropical LTD in 2002 in order to import Rum Santiago De Cuba into the UK; first importer of Cuban rum into the UK (after Havana Club); managed to reach sales of 5,500 cases of 12 per anum . In 2006 became exclusive agent for Russian Alcohol Group (largest producer of Vodka in Russia) and Green Mark Vodka, no 1 Vodka in the world in term of Volume sales; managed to reach sales volumes of 22,000 cases of 12 per anum. Traded quantities some super premium drinks like Don Fulano Tequila and Old Tom Gin. As well as bought and sold mainstream brands in the parallel market around the world.
As a director I was responsible for:
- Contracting; liaising with the producers on the contracts.
- Logistics Process - import & export, including documentation, dealing with the transport companies, import agents and Bonded Warehouses, UK Customs & Excise, and all licenses.
- Invoicing customers/distributors , settling invoices with producers and others
- Settling invoices on behalf of Russian Alcohol Group for their marketing campaign in the UK.
- Designing marketing campaign, organizing events.
- Managing a sales team of 3.

2008-2009
UNEAC – (Union Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba ) – Audiovisual Project
Position: Investor/co-producer

- Co- producer, selecting & preparing quality variety shows.
- Acted as agent/representative for Cuban groups abroad and negotiated on their behalf .
- Provided technology and financial resources to create audiovisual shows in Cuban nightclubs.

2008
Cuba Investments (UK)

Position: Director / Consultant

We setup Cuba Investments as a means of attracting industrial investors in Cuba. I was responsible for:
- Liaising with my contacts and arranging introductory meetings with the Cuban State owned organizations; including Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, Provincial Government of Santiago De Cuba, Coffee and Drinks producers.
- Managed to get an agreement in principle in raising 20 million dollars to invest in Cuba from UK investors.



2000-2001
Hanjin Shipping (UK)
Position: Area Controler

- Quoting business on the Europe to South East Asia trade routes and North America
- Reporting daily on the bookings on my trade
- Reporting weekly on the financial state of the UK shipping trade by compiling financial and other information and then distributing the report across all Hanjin agencies in Europe and the Far East

1998-1999
United Arab Shipping Company S.A.G. London
Position : Area Controller (1 year practice during my Bachelor Degree)

- Quoting business on the Europe (UK&Eire)/Middle East/Far East trade route
- Compiling/reporting statistical information/forecasting demand for empty container equipment by agency/area and type of equipment (Europe only) for managerial review
- Reviewing/checking liner vessel schedule for publication
- Maintaining/compiling/presenting schedule of vessel movement for chartering department on a weekly basis

Over 10 years experince in working in/with Latin American Countries , such as Cuba(on a goverment level) , Panama , Colombia and Mexico . In the filed of consultancy and import/export of goods and services , from and to those countries ; under circumstances and condicions that are very 'challenging'.

Greek ( Native ) , English (Fluent), Spanish (Fluent)

Education
1996-2000
BA/Business Studies
Grade: Second Class Upper Division (2.1)
London Guildhall University (London Metropolitan University)

International & European Business, Quantitative Methods I, Accounting, Spanish B, Business Communication, Quantitative Methods II, Business Economics, Spanish C, Marketing, Managing Organizations, Operations Management, Statistical analysis for business, Spanish D, Business in Europe, Managerial Accounting & Business Finance, Competitive Market Structures, Transport & Distribution, Corporate Planning and Decision Making, Physical Distribution Management, The Management of Investment for Transport Services, Management of Freight Transport, Maritime Transport, Business Studies Project I , Business Studies Project II( The Effect of the South East Asian Crisis on the Container Trade)

1994-1995
Higher National Certificate /Higher National Diploma - Commercial Operation of Shipping
Grade: Merit
London Guildhall University (London Metropolitan University)

Ship & Port Technology, Maritime Accounts, Shipping Management, Maritime Law, Shipping Operations, Marine Insurance, Maritime Economics, International Trade Flows, Diploma Project (Concentration trends in Liner Shipping)

1991-1994
Eniaio Polykladiko Lyceum(high school)
Grade: 15.2 out of 20
Volos, Greece

Languages
Greek (native), English (fluent), Spanish (fluent)

IT Skills
Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel

Licenses
UK driving license (clean), speedboat

Other Activities

2005-2008
Cuba Initiative member

-Cuba initiative is an intergovernmental organization setup by members of the British Parliament and the Cuban government in order to bring UK businesses and interests in contact with Cuban organizations. Membership is exclusive for UK companies and persons that have business interests with Cuba.

2004
Carnival De Cuba (www.carnival-de-cuba.com)
Position : Founder – Co –director

CDC is the largest Cuban Festival outside Cuba ; it promotes Cuban Culture , music arts , food and drink; it runs on two consecutive days during the summer in central London , around 60,000 people attend the event.

- Co- Founded the event back in 2004
- Liaised with Cuban organizations such as the Cuban Embassy in the UK, the ministry of Culture , the Cuban music industry and Cuban artists
- In charge of logistics in setting up the event for the day

Work on challenging projects on challenging environments .

upon request