At a special meeting of the board, held on-line, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have unanimously appointed Thomas A. Kazakos as its next Secretary General.
Kazakos will replace Guy Platten who will be stepping down in June 2025. Kazakos has been the Director General of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, the representative National-Member Association of Cyprus at ICS, since 1995. Internationally Kazakos has represented Cyprus on the board of ICS and the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) in addition to being an Administrative Board member of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).
I am very proud to have been selected to become the next Secretary General of ICS taking over from Guy next June. In my role with the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, I have seen first-hand and have contributed to the vital work that ICS undertakes. The coming years will be ones of significant change for our Industry and members, and it is vital that we have a strong and resilient organisation to ably represent their views.
… said Thomas Kazakos
Kazakos studied at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B) and a Master‘s Degree in European and International Trade Law (LL.M). Kazakos began his professional career at the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation prior to joining the Cyprus Shipping Chamber.
The coming decade will be pivotal for our industry, and it was important that we got the right person to lead ICS. Thomas brings a wealth of experience of the ICS community and the entire shipping industry. He is the ideal candidate to build on the great work that Guy has delivered over the past six plus years.
… commented Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping
Guy Platten concluded that the last six plus years had undoubtedly been the most rewarding of his career and that it had been a privilege to serve as Secretary General. He expressed how proud he was of the way the ICS team had stepped up to the many challenges thrown at them and how the industry had transformed from one that too often just responded to one that now seeks to shape its future.
To remind, this year, Guy Platten received the SAFETY4SEA Leadership Award, sponsored by Fleet Management Limited, for demonstrating leadership in creating a safety culture within shipping and advocating for a change in mindset to embrace innovation and sustainability.
