Victor Restis was born in Kinshasa, Congo and is a graduate of the Belgian “Institut Catholique des Hautes Etudes Commerciales” (ICHEC - Belgian Management School). He began his career in the family’s Shipping Company, Enterprises Shipping and Trading S.A. (EST), where he was a key member of the Management team before becoming the president of EST at the age of 36. He led the evolution of Enterprises Shipping and Trading from medium sized Shipping Company to a modern, diversified and one of the world’s largest privately owned fleets having reached more the 120 vessels recently. Mr. Restis is regarded as one of the most important and influential shipping personalities worldwide and has been awarded by Lloyd’s List as one of the ‘‘100 most influential people in shipping’’. In the last decade, he led the group's transformation from a Shipping Company to a diverse multinational and multicultural international Business Group with eclectic investments in a broad range of sectors including banking and financial services, (owning at one stage three fully licensed Banks in Europe), media, aviation, telecommunications, ship building/repairing, energy, hotels and hospitality services, leisure and real estate. From 2011 till 2013, he served as an Ambassador of the Republic of San Marino. He currently serves as a director in various organizations worldwide, including Protection & Indemnity Clubs, ship-owners associations, classification societies and non-profit organizations. Victor Restis has carried on a deep commitment to promote the welfare of others through charitable and humanitarian support in various countries assisting in relief efforts and contracting for noble causes.