The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Board of Directors has appointed John Denholm as Chairman, succeeding Emanuele Grimaldi, who concludes four years as Chairman after leading the organisation through a period of unprecedented challenge and change for international shipping.
A qualified chartered accountant, Denholm joined the family-owned shipping business J. & J. Denholm, becoming CEO in 1993. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of J. & J. Denholm and Denholm Energy Services. Throughout his career, John has held numerous positions across the maritime industry, including serving as President of both the UK Chamber of Shipping and BIMCO.
Denholm said: “It is a great honour to be appointed Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping and to represent an industry that underpins global trade and prosperity. I take on this responsibility at a moment of considerable upheaval and uncertainty for the world economy and for international shipping. Our industry continues to navigate geopolitical tensions, security threats, rapid technological change, the energy transition, and evolving trading patterns. Yet throughout every challenge, shipping continues to perform its essential role: keeping global trade moving and delivering the goods, energy, and resources upon which societies depend. I look forward to working with the ICS Board of Directors and Secretariat during this pivotal period for our industry.”
Thomas A Kazakos, ICS Secretary General, added: “I am delighted to welcome John Denholm as Chairman of ICS. John brings decades of experience as a shipowner, business leader, and industry representative, together with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our sector. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Emanuele Grimaldi for his outstanding leadership over the past four years. His chairmanship coincided with one of the most demanding periods in recent maritime history. Under his stewardship, ICS helped guide the industry as it responded to attacks on civilian shipping and the disruption of major trade routes, adapted to significant shifts in global trading patterns, and engaged with an unprecedented programme of international regulatory change. His contribution to both ICS and the wider shipping community has been immense.”
Image: John Denholm, elected as ICS Chairman (source: International Chamber of Shipping)
