– GREECE, Palaio Faliro – Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, today announced effective as of March 1, 2021, the appointments of Semiramis Paliou as CEO, of Ioannis Zafirakis as permanent CFO, of Eleftherios Papatrifon as COO.
Semiramis Paliou will no longer serve in her previous positions as COO and Deputy CEO, while Ioannis Zafirakis will remain the Chief Strategy Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Company.
“The Board of Directors has recognized the importance of providing an orderly and seamless succession, which will ensure that we have the senior leadership in place to continue the strategic vision and sound management of the Company for the future. Ms. Semiramis Paliou has clearly demonstrated her strong qualifications for her new role as Chief Executive Officer. She has a deep knowledge and understanding of the shipping industry and our Company. In particular, she has served admirably as Deputy Chief Executive Officer since October 2019, a period when our Company and industry faced the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have great confidence in the strength and continuity of the entire Diana Shipping Inc. leadership team.” commented Board Chairman, Simeon Palios.
Ms. Semiramis Paliou, the incoming CEO, said: “It is an honor to have been appointed by the Board of Directors to the Chief Executive Officer position, and I am grateful for the trust and confidence that have been placed in me. I look forward to leading the Company through the challenging and rapidly changing shipping environment, and to maintaining Diana Shipping Inc.’s position as a leader in our industry. In doing so, I highly value and rely on the expertise and support of our exceptional management team, including our Chairman, Mr. Simeon Palios, and my fellow executives Mr. Anastasios Margaronis, Mr. Ioannis Zafirakis, and Mr. Eleftherios Papatrifon, the new addition to our team.”
About Semiramis Paliou
Ms. Semiramis Paliou has served as a Director of the Company since March 2015, Deputy CEO since October 2019, and COO since August 2018. From November 2018 to February 2020, Ms. Paliou also served as COO of Performance Shipping Inc. She has over 20 years of experience in shipping operations, technical management, and crewing, having begun her career at Lloyd’s Register of Shipping in 1996 as a traineeship surveyor. During her career, she has served as the Head of the Operations, Technical, and Crew department of Diana Shipping Services S.A. and later served as VP.
Ms. Paliou obtained her BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London, and her MSc in Naval Architecture from University College, London, and also has completed courses in Finance for Senior Executives and Authentic Leader Development at Harvard Business School.
Since March 2018, Ms. Paliou has served on the board of directors of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association and in June 2020 was appointed President of the Association.
About Ioannis Zafirakis
Ioannis Zafirakis has served as a Director and Secretary of the Company since February 2005 and has held various executive positions such as Chief Strategy Officer, COO, EVP, and VP. In February 2020, Mr. Zafirakis was named Interim CFO and Treasurer of Diana Shipping Inc. Also, Mr. Zafirakis is currently the Interim CFO and Chief Strategy Officer of Diana Shipping Services S.A., where he also serves as Director and Treasurer. From June 1997 to February 2005, Mr. Zafirakis was employed by Diana Shipping Agencies S.A., where he held several positions in finance and accounting. From January 2010 to February 2020 he served as Director and Secretary and he held various executive positions such as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of Performance Shipping Inc.
Mr. Zafirakis is a member of the Business Advisory Committee of the Shipping Programs of ALBA Graduate Business School at The American College of Greece. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies from City University Business School in London and a master’s degree in International Transport from the University of Wales in Cardiff.
About Eleftherios Papatrifon
Eleftherios Papatrifon was most recently the CEO, Co-Founder, and Director of Quintana Shipping Ltd, a provider of dry bulk shipping services, from 2010 until the company’s successful sale of assets and consequent liquidation in 2017. Previously, for a period of approximately six years, he served as the CFO and a Director of Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. Before that, Mr. Papatrifon served for approximately 15 years in several corporate finance and asset management positions, both in the US and Greece.
He holds both a BBA and an MBA from Baruch College of the City University of New York and is a member of the CFA Institute and a CFA charter holder.
About Diana Shipping Inc.
Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of dry bulk vessels. The Company’s vessels are employed primarily on medium to long-term time charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain, and other materials along worldwide shipping routes.
For more information: http://www.dianashippinginc.com/
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