Following the conclusion of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Annual General Meeting and Board Meeting in Athens, the organisation announced several major developments marking a pivotal moment for global maritime leadership.
As announced, the board of ICS unanimously recommended John Denholm CBE as the successor to current Chairman, Emanuele Grimaldi. Denholm will take up the role following the conclusion of Emanuele Grimaldi’s term at the ICS AGM in June 2026. John Denholm currently serves as Board Member for the UK and Vice Chair of ICS. He is also the Chairman of J. & J. Denholm Limited.
Furthermore, ICS also has confirmed the appointment of 3 new Vice Chairs, Gaby Bornheim (Germany), Carl-Johan Hagman (Japan) and Claes Berglund (Sweden).
In a further transition in ICS leadership, Thomas Kazakos has formally succeeded Guy Platten as Secretary General. Formally Secretary General of the Cyprus Chamber of Shipping, Kazakos joined ICS in April for a preparatory handover period, ensuring a smooth transition for the Chamber.
Among the developments, the Board has also confirmed the full membership of the Malta International Shipowners Association. Formerly an Associate Member, Malta now joins as a Full Member of ICS.
The developments come after the Shaping the Future of Shipping Summit held on 11 June in Athens, Greece, where delegates from more than 30 countries, including ministerial representatives and chief executives from the global maritime and energy sectors, discussed the complex and evolving geopolitical landscape, regulatory developments and the critical need for enhanced seafarer training and recruitment to safeguard the future of global trade.
With all that is going on in the maritime space at the moment the industry needs strong governance and strong leadership. John has been involved with ICS for years and I am pleased that I will be able to pass the rains to such a knowledgeable leader who, with the support of the Vice-Chairs and Board will ensure shipowners interests are understood as we seek to be an organisation that provides solutions.
…said Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping.
Grimaldi also welcomed Thomas as the new ICS Secretary General and thanked Guy Platten for all he has done over the past seven years during a period of significant challenges, such as COVID and the Ever Given incident, as well as the intricacies of the decarbonisation agenda.
As stated, the ICS board discussions focused on the need for unified leadership amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, with a major topic also being the upcoming adoption of new GHG reduction measures at the IMO’s session in October which is expected to significantly reshape global shipping.
Finally, the Board discussion involved the ongoing concerns over the threat of global protectionism and increasing trade tariffs, which have led to notable disruptions in global trade flows, maritime transport and supply chains. The Board acknowledged a growing trend towards economic bifurcation and decoupling, which may significantly reshape international trade dynamics.
