“We are pleased to announce that Mr Nikolas Metallinos has joined our S&P team with immediate effect,” Athens-based Optima said in a statement.

SSY managers told Trade­Winds last week that the company would close its three-person Athens office “imminently”.

SSY Athens had been in operation since 2010.

Optima also announced it has hired S&P broker Mike Zaloumis, who was previously part of the broking team of Golden Destiny in Piraeus.