NIKOS MERTZANIDIS

Executive Director, Europe Cruise Lines International Association

Nikos Mertzanidis is Executive Director for Europe at Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) where he leads the association’s European office in Brussels. In this role, he oversees advocacy efforts on behalf of CLIA’s member cruise lines operating across Europe and champions policies and practices that support the cruise sector’s energy transition towards net-zero emissions by 2050.

Mertzanidis joined CLIA in 2016 as Manager, European Government Affairs and was promoted to Director in 2020 and Vice-President in 2024, and to his present position in 2025.

Prior to joining CLIA, Mertzanidis was a political advisor, working on the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, and later joined Imperial Brands Ltd. where he was the chief lobbyist focused on EU legislation for FMCG, taxation, new generation products, and consumer affairs. 

A seasoned government and public affairs professional, with expertise in global public affairs, policy making and European business regulation, Mertzanidis is a long-standing member of the International Political Science Association and the Society of European Affairs Professionals.