Team

Our Team has a collective experience of working in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Far East (including Hong Kong, Manila, and Indonesia). We have worked for major clients in all these countries and have dealt with a vast array of marine casualties. We have also been involved in the investigation of incidents arising from marine casualties and losses. We are therefore able to offer clients an extremely wide range of professional advice.

Paul Cook

Adjuster/Director

+30 6944 166 149

CV Paul Cook

Paul started work with Messrs. Francis & Arnold, London in 1967. At the time Francis & Arnold handled work for several London based Greek shipowners and this was an excellent introduction to the Greek shipping business. By the mid 1970’s Paul was working on all manner of claims, particularly General Average and Collision recoveries for the company’s most respected clients.

In 1976 Paul accepted an offer from the then largest firm of Average Adjusters in the Far East, Messrs. Stevens, Elmslie & Co to work in their Hong Kong head office. The Adjusting business in Hong Kong was fast-paced and Paul was working closely with some of the most reputable shipowners and innovative managers. Paul also handled all the claims for Pertamina, the Indonesian state-owned petroleum company, as well as the Sabah state owned logging business.

Paul acquired knowledge of an array of shipping trades, including Malaysian LNG business and Japanese importation of logs and general bulk trade into/out of China.

Major cases handled included the longest towage of a loaded bulk carrier from South America to Japan as well as serious casualties arising from severe weather conditions during the Japanese winter.

In 1990 Paul relocated to Greece and until 1997 worked as a senior Adjuster with Messrs. Manley Hopkins Son & Cookes.

In 1997 Paul teamed up with John to form Independent Average Adjusters and has since dealt with a wide variety of claims on nearly every conceivable type of vessel. Paul has even prepared an adjustment following the capture of a vessel by Somali pirates.

Paul has also been called upon to provide advice to various parties requiring a second opinion on matters ranging from General Average allowances to distribution of recoveries.

John Belousis

Managing Director

+30 6944 272 827

CV John Belousis

John was educated at St. Paul’s School, London and Cambridge University, where he read Modern Languages and then Law. He graduated BA (Hons) Law, MA, LL.M Comparative International Law and Law of the Sea.

After graduation, John trained with the law firm Norton, Rose, Botterell & Roche before joining Michael A. Karageorgis S.A., one of the largest shipping companies in Piraeus, as legal adviser handling Hull & Machinery, P&I insurance claims and charter-party disputes.

This was followed in the 1990’s by a number of years as director of various subsidiaries of the Manley Hopkins Group, including the brokerage firm of P. Wigham Richardson (Hellas), where he gained valuable experience in S&P, ship-management, ship-yard representation whilst promoting the core average adjusting business of the Group to the Greek shipping communities of Piraeus and London.

In 1997, John co-founded Independent Average Adjusters Ltd with Paul Cook. The name Independent was deliberately chosen as the company is wholly owned by its partners and all adjustments are prepared, printed and issued at its own premises.

When not attending meetings with clients and brokers, John is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Company and all marketing activities, with particular emphasis on client liaison.

Alan Phelps

Adjuster

+30 6948 266 771

CV Alan Phelps

Alan started his average adjusting career with Wm. Elmsie & Son, London and was involved mainly on claims for the Onassis fleet managed by Olympic Maritime S.A., Monaco.

After a brief spell working on claims for Greek clients at Francis & Arnold, London, Alan returned to Wm. Elmsie and was again involved in various UK and Greek claims.

In 1984, Alan relocated to Greece to work for London International Average Adjusting Co. Ltd, Piraeus where he experienced his first taste of working “close up” to the somewhat demanding Greek shipowners!

In 1987, he moved close by to Poseidon Average Adjusters Ltd and was involved on claims for various major shipowners including Tsakos, Laskaridis, Goumas, to mention a few.

From 1999 to 2017, Alan worked in Jakarta and Singapore including a 3 1/2 years stint in the cargo claims department of W.K.Webster (International) Pte Ltd, Singapore.

In 2017, Alan joined Independent as a Senior Adjuster and divides his time between Greece and UK.

Adam Rolland

Adjuster

+30 6955 259 447

CV Adam Rolland

Adam is descended from a long line of insurance brokers and underwriters and following his graduation from the University of Toronto, Adam obtained his brokerage licence on 1988. He commenced working as an insurance broker and, shortly thereafter, as a marine insurance practioner in the Average Adjusting department of Osborn & Lange Inc, a Montreal-based insurance brokerage.

In 1992, Adam left broking to pursue a career as an Average Adjuster at Finnamore & Partners whilst maintaining his links with marine insurance broking and claims. He acted as Director of AON’s marine insurance department in Montreal and later headed up the Canadian operation of marine insurance brokerage “OMNI Corporate Solutions Ltd”, as President, until the company withdrew from the Canadian market in 2013.

Electing to return to Average Adjusting, Adam rejoined Braden Marine Inc., and in 2018 completed the examination requirements for full membership of the Association of Average Adjusters of the United States and Canada.

Adam is also a Regular Member of the International Association of Average Adjusters, an Associate Member of the Association of Average Adjusters (UK) as well as a Member of the Canadian Maritime Law Association. He is also an active supporter of various other marine industry associations.

Julia Roumanou

Adjuster

+30 6973 701 213

CV Julia Roumanou

Julia graduated from the National University of Athens with a degree in economics and after working in the State Audit Office, she joined Independent in early 2007 as  office manager.

Her academic background meant that she was involved in analysing company accounts data and financial records.

Then she decided to pursue a career in the adjusting profession and in 2015, she satisfied the examiners of the Association of Average Adjusters and thus became an “Associate Member of the AAA”.

After gaining sufficient practical experience in handling H & M claims, Julia sat and passed the Fellowship exams of the Association – Modules F1 (General Average) & F3 (Collision).

Julia is now an accredited member of the Association with the professional title of “Senior Adjuster” and handles all types of Hull & Machinery Claims.

Chara Roumanou

Office Manager

+30 6973 642 042

CV Chara Roumanou

Chara joined Independent in 2014 as Office Manager having worked from 1996 to 2014 as Accounts Manager of a large telecommunications and audio systems company based in Kallithea.

Apart from her day-to-day duties making sure the office runs smoothly, Chara is responsible for the printing and dispatching of all adjustments, liaison with Clients and Brokers, invoicing and dealings with all third-party suppliers.

Chara is an invaluable member of the team and is involved in every aspect of the company’s business, as well as seeing to the welfare of all at Independent.

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