Four years after his election, in June 2022, and a few days after having welcomed the exit of his car carrier Grande Torino from the Strait of Hormuz, in the context of one of the major shipping crises of recent years, Emanuele Grimaldi handed over the leadership of the International Chamber of Shipping to John Denholm, unanimously elected by the association’s board during the general assembly held yesterday in Rome, at Palazzo Valentini.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), John Denholm is at the helm of the family company J & J Denholm, of which he is currently Executive Chairman, a role he also holds at Denholm Energy Services. During his career, he has also served as President of the UK Chamber of Shipping and of Bimco. Denholm, until now Vice President of ICS, had already been indicated as President-designate to succeed Grimaldi, with the latter’s approval, a year ago.
“I take on this responsibility at a time of considerable turbulence and uncertainty for the world economy and for international maritime transport,” commented the newly elected president. “Our sector continues to face geopolitical tensions, security threats, rapid technological changes, the energy transition, and evolving trade patterns. Yet, in the face of every challenge, shipping continues to play its essential role: keeping global trade moving and ensuring the delivery of the goods, energy, and resources on which our societies depend.”
“John brings with him decades of experience as a shipowner, business leader, and industry representative, as well as a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities our sector faces,” commented Thomas A. Kazakos, ICS Secretary General, who thanked Grimaldi for the “extraordinary leadership” expressed during his presidency.
A four-year term which, he recalled, coincided with one of the most challenging periods in recent maritime history.
But, he added, “under his leadership, ICS helped the sector respond to attacks on civilian ships and disruptions to major trade routes, adapt to significant changes in global trade flows, and confront an unprecedented agenda of international regulatory evolution. His contribution to ICS and the entire shipping community has been immense.”
The ICS annual assembly, which touched Italy for the first time, was held in collaboration with Confitarma, whose president Mario Zanetti emphasized that resilience, even in the maritime sector, consists not only of the ability to react to crises, but also of building relationships, diversifying solutions, and collaborating across national borders. “It is precisely for this reason,” added Zanetti, “that the role of ICS is so important. The International Chamber of Shipping represents a common voice for a truly global industry and helps keep the sector united in facing challenges that no country and no company can solve alone.”
