Niche Athens brokerage Ariston Commercial Services has hired a former Cargill man to help expand its footprint as it moves into specialised finance.

Kyriakos Attikouris took up the post as director of structured deals and business development on 1 February.

Attikouris used to originate such deals for Cargill. As a member of its assets and structuring desk, part of his job was to design and negotiate structured, alternative transactions in dry bulk shipping, involving bareboat lease financing and long-term employment.