“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," commented Simeon Palios.

Paliou has been Diana's deputy CEO since October 2019, and has been the company's director since 2015. She has over twenty years of shipping experience, having started her career at Lloyd's Register in 1996.

Anastasios Margaronis will continue to serve as the company's president and managing director, while Ioannis Zafirakis has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer on a permanent basis since February 2020, having served on an interim basis in that position.

"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," Palios added.

Diana Shipping currently operates a 37-bulker fleet. For the fourth quarter of 2020, the corporation announced a net loss of $ 7.4 million and a net loss attributed to common stockholders of $ 8.9 million.

Maritime Business World