In 1992 he completed the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers exams, specialising in ship management, sale & purchase, dry cargo chartering, marine insurance and marine finance. From February 1993 to March 1994, he served as an apprentice deck officer on merchant ships on voyages around the world gaining valuable experience of vessel ‘on board’ operations and management.

His operational experience includes supervising ship repairs, maintenance, safety management and cost control at John Samonas & Sons where he was employed as the operations manager from 1994 to 2007.

Leon's strategic and commercial experience includes ship sale & purchase negotiations and handling financing, chartering and insurance whilst employed as an exclusive commercial and technical consultant of Efploia Shipping Company from 2001 to 2007 where he played a key role in the company’s fleet renewal programme. The success of this programme led to Efploia Shipping Company appointing Samonas Brothers as exclusive brokers for its commercial activities.