Leadership changes in the maritime sector are rarely symbolic.. They often reflect the shifting priorities, pressures, and possibilities shaping global trade..
At this year’s Controlling Council meeting in Hong Kong, the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) unveiled a new senior leadership team, one that carries both continuity and quiet transformation..
A fresh hand at the helm
The Institute’s members have entrusted Krishnan Subramaniam, FICS, with the role of International Chairman, succeeding Luis Bernat, FICS..
Subramaniam is no stranger to ICS’s corridors of influence.. With more than three decades of experience in logistics, supply chains, and petrochemical shipping, he enters the position with a professional foundation that is both globally informed and operationally practical..
“As I take on the role of Institute Chairman, I do so with pride and deep honour. Many ICS members and fellows know my long-standing passion for the Institute and the career pathways it creates for shipping professionals. I remain a committed advocate of our mission and bring that conviction into this role,” said Subramaniam in a statement..
Supporting him is Marc Buchholz, FICS, the newly appointed Vice Chairman.. Known for his deep operational insight, Buchholz’s career spans ship management, finance, and commercial maritime functions, the kind of expertise that speaks directly to the realities of modern shipping, where operational efficiency and financial discipline are inseparable..
Complementing the top tier is Natalia Margioli, FICS, now the Institute’s Vice-President.. A cornerstone of the ICS Greek branch and a driving force behind maritime education initiatives in the region, Margioli has been instrumental in cultivating one of the organisation’s most active academic hubs..
Her elevation signals that education remains an unshakeable pillar of ICS’s mandate..
Providing leadership continuity at the very top is Punit Oza, FICS, who continues in his role as President of the Institute, guiding its global agenda and serving as a bridge between the Council’s strategic decisions and the wider maritime community since 2024..
More than titles – a glimpse into ICS’s direction
This leadership configuration is not an exercise in administrative housekeeping.. It announces a strategic emphasis mirroring the direction of the wider shipping industry.
The background of the new leadership structure suggests a sharpened focus on professional development and digital capability building, areas the industry increasingly recognises as non-negotiable..
As supply chains digitalise and talent gaps widen, ICS’s influence in formal training and standard-setting places it in a powerful position to shape how maritime professionals prepare for the decade ahead..
Connecting geographies and expanding influence
One notable aspect of the new leadership is its geographic spread and diversified leadership profile, reflecting a transition from a traditionally Western leadership base to one that is far more aligned with its international footprint..
The new leadership’s professional journeys across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and global maritime trade lanes reflect a body that no longer centres itself around a single market or tradition, and ICS’s intent on growing as a facilitator of cross-regional collaboration, aligning its internal leadership profile with the global footprint of its membership base..
Questions that define the road ahead
As with any leadership shift, the intrigue lies not in what has been announced, but in what may now be possible.. The coming months may reveal answers to questions that many in the industry are already asking:
- Will we see new digital learning platforms and certification pathways tailored to an evolving workforce..??
- Can ICS’s new leadership leverage its global network and diversity to harmonise expectations, standards, and training across regions that operate at vastly different speeds and scales..??
- Will the Institute take a more assertive position on maritime sustainability, regulatory alignment, and the competency requirements of the post-carbon era..??
These are not hypothetical challenges because they sit at the heart of the sector’s transformation..
And in shipping, as in leadership, direction matters..
Shipping and Freight Resource wishes the news leadership all the best in their journey..
