Columbia Group

We’re pleased to announce that our COO, Leonid Zalenski, has been elected to the Board of the Maritime Anti‑Corruption Network (MACN). This milestone reflects our continued commitment to transparency, integrity, and responsible leadership in global shipping.

Our CEO, Andreas Hadjipetrou, welcomed guests and shared why partnership, people, and trust sit at the heart of how we work, especially as we begin our journey in the Danish market. Thank you to everyone who joined us. We’re looking forward to many more conversations ahead!

Columbia Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Andreas Hadjipetrou as Chief Executive Officer and Demetris Chrysostomou as Deputy Chief Executive Officer.   We thank Mark O’Neil for his contribution during his tenure and wish him all the best for the future.

Wishing a joyful Orthodox Easter to our clients, partners, and colleagues. May it bring warmth and happiness to you and your loved ones. To mark the occasion, our Accounts Department visited the kindergarten of A’ Astikis and delivered Easter gifts and food supplies to the children as part of their Project One initiative. #WeAreColumbia #ItStartsWithUs

We would like to extend our warmest wishes for a joyful Easter to all our esteemed colleagues, valued clients, and trusted partners. May this special season bring you and your loved ones peace, happiness, and an abundance of blessings.

Columbia Group has raised concerns about the growing gap between cyber regulation and operational readiness slowing industry progress, following discussions at this year’s CRA Europe 2026 – Cyber Resilience in Action conference in Bucharest. A consistent theme across the conference - where we participated through our involvement in the EU-funded CYBERGUARD and CYBERFORT projects - was the critical role of vulnerability management and security updates. These are no longer technical considerations operating in the background, but core requirements that will determine whether organisations can meet compliance expectations. Read more on our website: columbiagroup.org/columbia-group…

In today's rapidly evolving global landscape, self-regulation and strategic partnerships have become pivotal for the shipping industry. Mark O'Neil, our President and CEO, underscores the pressing need to embrace self-regulation as a cornerstone for maintaining safety, environmental responsibility, and ethical standards. Read more on our website: columbiagroup.org/shipping-will-…

Yesterday at Capital Link, our President & CEO Mark O'Neil and our Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Hadjipetrou joined industry leaders to discuss the realities shaping today’s shipping landscape. A central theme across both panels was the reshaping of the global regulatory and geopolitical environment, and what that means for safety, compliance, decarbonisation, and commercial certainty. In an era of competing spheres of influence and increasing sanctions complexity, partnership and scalability are becoming critical. As Mr. O'Neil emphasised, this is the time for “partner shipping” - building trusted, blue-chip relationships that go beyond transactional models and provide real alignment when challenges arise. The discussion also highlighted the growing importance of self-regulation. Regardless of shifting global frameworks, our responsibility to protect seafarers, ensure operational safety, and uphold strong environmental standards remains constant. Technology, optimisation and scale can provide clarity in uncertain times, but ultimately, shipping remains a people-driven industry. Thank you to the Capital Link team for hosting a timely and thought-provoking event.

Our CEO, Mark O'Neil, sat down with Christina Orfanidou, Columbia’s new Head of AI, to discuss all things artificial intelligence, leadership and how to make sure AI doesn’t become the tail that wags the dog. 🎙️ Keep an eye out for our 6th podcast episode, released next week on all major platforms, for the full discussion. #ColumbiaGroupUnplugged

We're pleased to announce the appointment of Christina Orfanidou as Columbia Group's Head of AI, reflecting the company’s strategic commitment to responsible, people-centric artificial intelligence. In her role, Ms Orfanidou will lead Columbia Group’s AI strategy and implementation, focusing on practical, business-owned solutions that deliver measurable value. Her mandate includes driving productivity gains, modernising workflows, and ensuring AI is deployed ethically, transparently, and in compliance with evolving global regulations. Read more on our website: columbiagroup.org/columbia-group…

We’re thrilled to announce the appointment of Ulla Eithz Nielsen as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, further strengthening Columbia Group’s executive leadership. In her new role, Ms Eithz Nielsen will work closely with Columbia’s executive leadership team, supporting operational alignment, organisational effectiveness and the long-term development of the group’s activities across ship management and related maritime services. Read more about her appointment on our website: columbiagroup.org/columbia-group…

We're thrilled to announce our expansion into India with a new hub in Mumbai, marking a significant milestone for our growing Columbia Group global network. Demetris Chrysostomou, CEO of Asia Region, who will be heading up the new office, said: "This expansion reflects not only the important role India plays in the global maritime industry, but also our commitment to being closer to our people, partners and clients, delivering services with proximity, consistency and purpose.” Read more on our website: columbiagroup.org/columbia-plott… #ColumbiaGroup #India #Expansion

Celebrating Excellence with the I CARE STAR Awards   The I CARE STAR Awards were created to honour our shore employees worldwide who embody the essence of our company's core values and go above and beyond in their work. The initiative serves as a way for us to show our appreciation for the hard work of our people, and underscores the significance of our company’s core values, which form the very foundation of our organisational culture and drive our collective success.   Yesterday, the winners from our Cyprus office were presented their awards by Andreas Hadjipetrou, Columbia Group CCO and Managing Director, and Captain Leonid Zalenski, Columbia Group COO.   Join us in congratulating the exceptional individuals who demonstrated their dedication to their roles. We thank them for their professionalism and contribution to driving Columbia Group forward. ⚓CSM Cyprus: David Greiffenberger Georgia Fakonti Christos Chrysostomou Anastasia Konstantinou Dmitriy Khodak Maria Ioannidou J Anastasia Antoniou Maria Antoniou Ioannis Kalogiros Salab Daga Aren Armenagian Marios Nikolaidis Tina Pantela ⚓CSM Greece: Eleni Kontopoulou CSM Germany: Shannen Adlaon Zvonimir Soban ⚓CSM Manila: Jamie Anne Ramores Gladys Ann Oliva Mckenly Liman Abigail Lustado ⚓CSM Singapore Julie Zhu Daniel Hu Jing Hai Ong Kian Boon

Starting the New Year off Right 🎆🍰   We were led into the New Year by our Chairman Captain Henrich Schoeller, who was joined by our Group CCO and Managing Director Andreas Hadjipetrou and Group COO Captain Leonid Zalenski, for our annual vasilopita cake-cutting ceremony.   This Greek custom involves hiding a coin inside a cake and is said to give luck in the New Year to whoever finds it, and is a tradition we proudly uphold at our Cyprus office.    Congratulations to the winner!

This week we are in China for Marintec, one of the most influential and fast-moving maritime events in the world.  Our CEO, Mark O’Neil, took part in the Ship Operations and Management Forum, speaking on the “Shipping Finance and Investment” panel and sharing insights on market trends, investment strategies, and the importance of integrated maritime services in today’s landscape. Alongside him, our CEO Asia Region, Demetris Chrysostomou, and Managing Director China, Bernard Liew, were actively engaging with clients and partners, strengthening relationships and exploring new opportunities within this key market. China remains a central part of our strategic growth — a global leader in shipbuilding, technology, and maritime innovation. Being here reinforces our commitment to collaboration, performance, and long-term partnerships across the region.

It's time for the November Photo Competition! 📸 As we enter the final month of autumn, we want to see what this season looks like wherever you are, whether it's on board or ashore. To enter, please send us a message with your chosen photo, including your name, position, and a brief description of the picture.  The winning entry will be shared on our social media pages. The competition is open to our shore staff and crew. 📷 2nd Officer Bayrak Serhiy. #PhotoCompetition #ViewFromHere

We recently held our annual event in Tokyo, where Andreas Hadjipetrou, Columbia Group CCO, Demetris Chrysostomou, CEO of Asia Region, and our CSM Japan team were joined by key regional stakeholders for an evening aimed at strengthening relationships. We have been providing services in the region for over 25 years, and reaffirmed our commitment by opening a local office in the previous year, helping us support the growth of our Japanese customers and drive mutual success.

We recently held a Crew Conference in Mumbai on 14-15 October, an event which brought together 49 Indian seafarers from various ranks and departments, representing a broad range of experience within the CSM Fleet.  Capt. Leonid Zalenski, our Group COO, joined remotely and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all seafarers, recognising them as the true strength and foundation of CSM. Our President and CEO, Mark O’Neil, also joined remotely and reiterated the importance of safety and environmental protection. The successful conference achieved its goal of improving teamwork, communication, and safety awareness among our officers, whose positive feedback and active involvement are proof that regional conferences are valuable for building a strong learning culture and keeping everyone in the company aligned and motivated.

Meet the Influencer: Shannen Adlaon, Apprentice Office Management at CSM Germany 🤳 Shannen has a knack for creativity, and when she was 19, she even auditioned to be on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in the Philippines, where she was one of the final 15 participants who underwent the interview process. Swipe to get to know more fun facts about our #COLUMBIAinfluencer ➡

🥜 CSM Manila's Giving Spirit 🥜 In the spirit of our ICARE values, CSM Manila collaborated with the He Cares Foundation for a fundraising initiative aimed at providing support to street children in Metro Manila.   Thanks to the unwavering effort and dedication of our team, our colleagues have already sold 432 jars of peanut butter, and we're proud of their positive impact on the local community. #WeAreColumbia #ItStartsWithUs