HABA Honors Nicolas Bornozis, President & Founder of Capital Link

By Athena Efter on July 30, 2023

The Hellenic American Association for Professionals in Finance (HABA), recenty honored Nicolas Bornozis, Founder, President & CEO of Capital Link, Inc. as Executive of the Year in celebration of its 39^th anniversary at a private club in Manhattan. Mr. Bornozis was recognized for his professional accomplishments, exemplary leadership in business, and philanthropy. Over 300 people attended the event and included prominent members of the Greek and Greek-American community.

John Hadjipateras, Olga Bornozi, Alexandra Bornozis, John Bornozis, Marie Konstance, Nicolas Bornozis, Dean Metropoulos, Alexia Kalfas, John Catsimatidis, Margo Catsimatidis; PHOTO: ETA PRESS

Educated at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, with an MBA from Harvard Business School, Mr. Bornozis has played a significant role as a tour de force and key leader in promoting Greece as a business and investment opportunity to global financial communities, as well increasing the profile of Greek shipping industries on a broader, worldwide level. In 1994, he brought the Athens Stock Exchange to the forefront by hosting the first roadshow in the US, which garnered American investors’ interest in the Greek Stock Market. In November 2002, he played a significant role in the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the New York Stock Exchange and the Athens Stock Exchange. In 1997, he, along with his sister Olga, created Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum in New York, to promote Greece to US investors.

James Gerkis, Kondilia Parissi, Robert Savage, Alexia Kalfas, Costa Kellas, Nicolas Bornozis, Alexandros Papadopoulos, Fanny Trataros, Loukas Tasigiannis; PHOTO: ETA PRESS

The evening began with a cocktail hour of passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a sit-down dinner. Alexia Kalfas, Chief Financial officer of TMV (Trail Mix Ventures) and Board Director of HABA, was the MC and gave the opening remarks, introducing Bob Savage, HABA President and Global Head of Markets, Strategy and Insights of BNY Mellon. He noted the incredible difference that Mr. Bornozis has made to Greece and America in bettering both societies. He also emphasized that HABA is, at its core, a networking organization that brings together people from various sectors and industries of society that include technology companies, legal representatives, shipping companies, and academics.

John Bornozis, Margo Catsimatidis, Nicolas Bornozis, Olga Bornozi, John Catsimatidis, Alexandra Bornozis; PHOTO: ETA PRESS

Alexia Kaflas read a special message from Former Prime Minister of Greece Kostas Karamanlis recalling their friendship when they were classmates at Athens Law School: “I remember how motivated, how restless and visionary he was, already back then. In our long discussions and searches for the future, Nikos identified a gap. And filling that gap was meant to be a lifetime goal and vision for him, a vision that was later embodied in the now famous Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum. Throughout its long history, the longest of its kind, it has cultivated strong ties between the Greek and US business communities. The work he does with promoting the Greek shipping industry, in particular is remarkable.”

Dean Metropoulos, Chairman and CEO of Metropoulos & Co. addressing the event; PHOTO: ETA PRESS

Additional accolades and recognition for Mr. Bornozis’ work were presented through a video tribute that included comments from Antonis Samaras and George Papandreou, both former Prime Ministers of Greece, John Paulson, President of Paulson & Co., Wilbur Ross, Former U.S. Commerce Secretary and Founder of W.L. Ross & Co., Michael Parker, Global Head of Shipping at Citi, and Ted Jadick Jr., President of DNB Markets, Inc. All expressed their gratitude and profound respect for Mr. Bornozis’ accomplishments with Capital Link. The video segment concluded with remarks from Knut Orbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime: “Nicolas, you are first and foremost a really great guy, and someone I have enjoyed working with and meeting over the years, and through Capital Link you have created a crucial space for shipping’s most important stakeholders to come together…You are a great facilitator on collaboration and the work you and your team do helps guide the maritime industry…I look forward to many more years of future collaboration.”

The honorre with Spyridoula Katechis, Ronald McDonald Greek Division Coordinator; PHOTO: ETA PRESS

Dean Metropoulos, Chairman and CEO of Metropoulos & Co. was invited to the podium to speak and say a few words in which he referred to Capital Link as giving Greece an “incredible platform to present its case about investing and talk about its policies…It’s amazing how the forum has given not only the participants the opportunity of dialogue and exchange of ideas but it gave the platform credibility.” His comments were followed by John Hadjipateras, CEO-NYSE listed Dorian LP who referred to Nicolas Bornozis, as a “patriot, a visionary, as an innovator, a person who leads with compassion and social responsibility.”

John Catsimatides, Chairman and CEO of Red Apple Group whisked in late, but not without apology and good reason, as he announced he was in a meeting with former President Trump – a meeting he had to cut short to be present for Mr. Bornozis. “Nick has done so much for relationships between Greece and the United States…In the 25 years or so that Nick has been running Capital Link, he has done a tremendous job opening up markets, opening up possibilities, opening up the ability to do business, and that’s why no matter where I was today, I am going to be here for Nick…Nobody else could have done what you have done. Congratulations Nick”

HABA President Robert Savage, Chris Thomas, Alexia Kalfas, Nicolas Bornozis, Costa Kellas; PHOTO: ETA PRESS

It then came time for the man of honor himself to speak. Infusing a salt of the earth way and humble pride in his words, Mr. Bornozis thanked his peers and friends for this “prestigious and impactful award.” In his speech, he credited his wife Marie who, while he was a student at Harvard Business School, encouraged him to move forward with his goal to do something meaningful and equally impactful for Greece.

Mr. Bornozis is more than a man of vision. He is a man of action. He had a specific plan to promote Greece in the business and shipping world, and he consistently and steadily worked toward that end. One of the most resonating takeaways from his speech that truly define his person, both in character and in business, is his belief that respect has to be earned. He explained that in the Greek language people often address each other formally in the plural. It’s a greeting that he doesn’t like for himself, as a man who keeps a low profile. He went on to say that it’s an address that has to be earned with respect. A big applause followed, honoring him with all the much due respect he has earned for himself. He concluded his speech by thanking his family for their support and the great team by his side: “Nothing could have been achieved without the great support and friendship of my clients and of all those people who believed in and supported us over the years. At the end of the say, what I am most proud of is not the things I have accomplished professionally, which I am (proud of). It’s the relationships which we have built over time. These bonds will stay there forever. Thank you to everybody.”

Rhode Island State Senator Leonidas Raptakis, presented Mr. Bornozis with a proclamation from the State of Rhode Island; PHOTO: ETA PRESS

After being presented with his award by HABA, Leonidas Raptakis, Senator of Rhode Island (D), presented Mr. Bornozis with a proclamation for his efforts from the State of Rhode Island. He concluded by stating that on his way to New York City that afternoon, he was “looking at all the bridges- the Whitestone Bridge, the Throggs Neck Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Triboro and Queensboro, and I saw how the bridges connect New York City and the Northeast, and probably the whole East Coast, and I though of Nick Bornozis, how he is a bridge facilitating, introducing, linking leaders in government, elected officials, leaders in shipping and finance, business, investment between the United States, Greece and Cyprus, and it shows us how, as the leader, along with Olga, at the helm of Capital Link for thirty years… It’s this tenacity that he fights to make sure that our lives, whether we live in Cyprus, Greece, or the United States, are improved by the connection of the bridge between everyone here in the room this evening.” In a symbolic gesture, he presented the proclamation on behalf of all the Greek-Americans elected to office in the United States.

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