Thomas Kazakos Appointed as Next Secretary General of International Chamber of Shipping

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has announced the appointment of Thomas Kazakos as its next secretary general. Kazakos, who currently serves as the director general of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, will take over from Guy Platten in June next year.

With a career that began at the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation, Kazakos has been a key figure in the shipping industry for many years. He has represented Cyprus on the boards of ICS, the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA), and served as an administrative board member of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

In response to his appointment, Kazakos stated, “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 organization to represent their views. The IMO’s decarbonization agenda is a top priority, and ICS is working closely with stakeholders to support the transition.”

Chairman of the ICS, Emanuele Grimaldi, expressed confidence in Kazakos, saying, “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 and is the ideal candidate to build on the great work of Guy Platten.”