YieldStreet, a venture capital-backed asset-based lender, says the former head of Deloitte's shipping practice in Greece will be joining the firm as it cites the success of its first marine finance offering for retail investors.

George Cambanis, who founded Deloitte’s Greece practice in 1976, is joining the New York-based YieldStreet, according to the company.

Saying it's a "great time" to be investing in the marine shipping sector, Cambanis says he is going to YieldStreet as the firm opens ship financing to qualified retail investors.