Nikos Antonakeas
Managing Director, The Morrell Group

Nikos Antonakeas, a native of Athens, Greece, was born into a military family and spent his formative years living in many different European cities. While in business school in Paris, he supplemented his studies working in the advertising department of a major national monthly publication where he worked first in the production department and later became media coordinator.. In 1983, Mr. Antonakeas moved to New York and joined forces with Peter and Roberta Morrell as Managing Director of Morrell & Company where he was in charge of marketing and media production. In 1988, he revamped and designed the now famous Morrell & Company full color catalogue, adding editorial and journalistic content from every corner of the wine-producing world. Over the years, he has contributed greatly to the strong diversity of the Morrell & Company inventory mix, for which the company is justly famous. In 1997, he was appointed Managing Director of the Morrell & Company Fine Wine Auction division. Under his stewardship the Fine Wine Auction Division has achieved international acclaim and recognition from such major publications as The New York Times, Forbes, Business Week and Wine Spectator. Additionally, Morrell was rated "The Best Wine Auction House in New York" by New York Magazine in May 1998.

He is a member of numerous professional wine organizations throughout the world in recognition for his services to the wine business, such as the prestigious Commanderie de Bordeaux of France and Cavalieri di Vini Nobili of Italy.

He is co-owner of the Wines by Morrell retail store in Easthampton, New York, as well as owner of The Cigar Box, a fine cigar shop and smoking lounge, also in Easthampton.