Thomas Kazakos has formally succeeded Guy Platten as Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). At the same time, a new ICS Chairman Designate has been named, three new Vice Chairs have been appointed and Malta has become a full member of ICS.
These developments were announced following the conclusion of the ICS Annual General Meeting and Board Meeting in Athens.
The board of ICS unanimously recommended John Denholm CBE as the successor to current Chairman, Emanuele Grimaldi. Mr Denholm will take up the role following the conclusion of Mr Grimaldi’s term at the ICS AGM in June 2026. Mr Denholm currently serves as Board Member for the UK and Vice Chair of ICS. He is also the Chairman of J. & J. Denholm Limited, a family-owned business with interests spanning shipping, logistics, seafoods, and industrial services.
ICS also confirmed the appointment of three new Vice Chairs, Dr Gaby Bornheim (Germany), Mr Carl-Johan Hagman (Japan) and Mr Claes Berglund (Sweden). ICS conveys its great thanks to Themis Papadopoulos (Cyprus) and Caroline Yang (Singapore), who are both stepping down as a Vice Chairs after four years of service.
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New Secretary General
Formally Secretary General of the Cyprus Chamber of Shipping, Kazakos joined ICS in April for a preparatory handover period before taking up the role of Secretary General, ensuring a smooth transition for the Chamber. The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides welcomed Kazakos into the role and recognised Platten’s seven years of service.
Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping: ‘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. I also welcome Thomas as our new Secretary General. Thomas inherits a wonderful team and I know he will be a force for good as we continue to represent our industry on the world stage.’
‘Finally I must thank Guy Platten for all he has done over the past seven years. Guy has led ICS and our industry during a period of significant challenge, whether through COVID, responding to the Ever Given incident or navigating the intricacies of the decarbonisation agenda. Guy has increased the impact of ICS and helped our industry to navigate the challenges that we have faced,’ concludes Grimaldi.
Malta becomes full member
The Board also confirmed the full membership of the Malta International Shipowners Association. Formerly an Associate Member, Malta now joins as a Full Member of ICS. This advancement reflects Malta’s expanding influence in maritime affairs and comes at a time when global trade is undergoing substantial transformation.
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Focus on geopolitical and climate challenges
Board discussions took place against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical uncertainty. There was a strong emphasis on the need for clear, unified leadership across the shipping industry as it navigates complex and evolving challenges.
Key topics of discussion included the new GHG reduction measures, which are due for formal adoption at the IMO’s extraordinary session in October, and which are expected to reshape the structure of the global shipping industry for years to come. While the final agreement is more complex than anticipated, ICS played a central role throughout the IMO negotiations. Also on the agenda were the impact of protectionism, supply chain security and seafarer welfare.
Picture: Thomas Kazakos, Nikos Christodoulides, Emanuele Grimaldi and Guy Platten (photo by ICS).
