During these years, Mr. Pendias has represented senior members of the Al Saud Royal Family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in their investment and management of major industrial and shipping projects.
Mr. Pendias has also been engaged by governmental agencies, including the U.S. Navy for logistical support in Middle Eastern naval transport and the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the promotion of Brazilian-Saudi trade and commerce.
Mr. Pendias has also assisted or worked with governmental agencies (and leading nationally significant enterprises) such as:
Brazil: The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social, Banco do Brasil, Petrobras, Fronape (Petrobras), Empresas Petroleo Ipiranga, Vale de Rio Doce, Rio Doce Nave (VALE), Braskem, Companhia Unipar, Construtora Andrade Gutierrez, and Empresa Brasileiro de Aeronautica (EMBRAER).
Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, the Saudi Ministry of Finance, the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), Saudi Basic Industries (SABIC), Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), Saudi Electric Company (SEC), and Saudi Oger.
Other Arabian Gulf: Al Sabah family (ruling family of Kuwait), and Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (Dubai).
Iraq: The Iraqi Ministry of Petroleum.
Philippines: Landoil Corporation (Manila).
United States: The U.S. Navy, the U.S. Naval Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness, the World Bank, the Carlyle Group, Mobil Oil, B&H Ocean Carriers, Lykes Lines, and Planning Research Corporation.
Some highlights of Mr. Pendias’ experience in energy and energy-related transport matters include:
Saudi Arabia – Brazil
Assisted Brazilian interests in procuring and negotiating 1,000 MW (US$ 1 billion) gas powered electric generation project for Saudi Electric Company, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Assisted Brazilian interests in procuring participation in a 1,000 MW (US$ 1.2 billion) gas powered electric at Ras Az Zahr, Saudi Arabia for Ma’aden (Saudi Arabian Mining Corporation).
Assisted Saudi Oger Group in its proposal to make a US$ 1 billion investment in joint venture with leading Brazilian mining company in Ma’aden (Saudi Arabian Mining Corporation).
Iraq – Italy
Assisted Fahd Al Tobaishi & Co Int’l (Geneva, Switzerland arm of Saudi enterprise) in establishing a US$ 1.5 billion oil barter with Iraq’s Ministry Of Petroleum; supported by Planning Research Corporation and the World Bank (Washington D.C.) and Italian Overseas Trading Co. (Geneva, Switzerland) and Fronape – Petrobras (Brazil).
Italy
Organized LNG supply (US$ 950 million) for ENI (Rome, Italy) to Milan, Italy via Antwerp Gas Terminal, Belgium and Belgian State Railways Unit Trains.
Among Mr. Pendias’ speaking engagements, he gave the key-note address at the 2005 Arab – Latin American Summit in Brasilia, Brazil at the invitation of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on “Current Business Opportunities in Saudi Arabia” and spoke on the Greek and Cypriot energy markets at the Platts LNG Energy Conference held in Houston, Texas in February, 2013.
Mr. Pendias is a dual national – U.S.A. and Greek (EU).
Professional History
President-CEO., Falcon Consulting Group, involved in large scale, multi-disciplined projects in Saudi Arabia, with offices in Athens, Greece and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2004-2013)
General Manager, Senior Director and shareholders representative, BURWAIN SAUDIA, a Saudi shipping and trading group, owned by Burmeister Wain (Copenhagen, Denmark) and senior members of the Al Saud family. (1991 – 1998)
Executive Vice-President, FAHD AL TOBAISHI & COMPANY INTERNATIONAL, a civil works, services and trading company which specialized in petroleum counter-trade and related project
finance. (1985 – 1989)
Managing Director of PHILSINPORTS (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) under Chairman U.S. Navy Admiral John McCain (father of current U.S. Senator and former U.S. Presidential candidate) , operated one half of the port of Jeddah with 2500 stevedores for Landoil Corporation (Manila) – Mr. Jose De Venecia, Jr., Chairman. (1976 – 1979)
Chairman & CEO, VAN DER ZEE GROUP, based in Zurich, Switzerland, an international shipping and trading group. Major clients for over 25 years including Petrobras and Fronape, Rio Doce
Nave, all major shipping, petroleum and petrochemical groups of the People’s Republic of China, Shipping Corporation of India and Scindia, Nakaruma Steamship Corporation, Sankyu Corporation
(Japan), Lykes Lines (USA), A.P. Moller (Copenhagen, Denmark), Vlasov Group (Monte Carlo), Mobile Oil Corporation (USA). (1972 –1998)
Legal and Business Advisor to AL SAUD ROYAL FAMILY, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (1972)
Executive Vice President, ORIENT MID-EAST LINE (New York City, USA) which operated a large fleet of dry cargo and tanker vessels, that provided regular liner services world-wide, from the U.S.
Great Lakes, East and Gulf coasts. A major carrier for U.S. government generated cargoes. (1966 – 1971) Professional Affiliations and Awards
Warden, U.S. Embassy, Athens, Greece
Commander, American Legion, Greece
Recipient, Medal of Honor and Recognition for Philanthropy, City of Athens, Greece
Senior Legal Advisor, Foreign Relations Committee, City of Athens, Greece
Legal Advisor, American Hellenic Educational Association, Greece (AHEPA)