John Denholm Appointed Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping
• The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Board of Directors has appointed John Denholm CBE as Chairman of the Board.
• The decision was taken at the ICS Annual General Meeting, held at Palazzo Valentini in Rome, Italy.
• John Denholm succeeds Emanuele Grimaldi, who concludes four years as Chairman after leading the organisation through a period of unprecedented challenge and change for international shipping.
22 June 2026, Rome – The Board of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has today unanimously elected John Denholm CBE as Chairman of the Board.
The decision was made by the ICS Board of Directors at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting, held at Palazzo Valentini in Rome, Italy.
John Denholm succeeds Emanuele Grimaldi, President and Managing Director of
Grimaldi Euromed SpA, who has served as Chairman since June 2022.
A qualified chartered accountant, John Denholm joined the family-owned shipping
business J. & J. Denholm, becoming Chief Executive in 1993. He currently serves as
Executive Chairman of J. & J. Denholm and Denholm Energy Services. Throughout his
career, John has held numerous leadership positions across the maritime industry,
including serving as President of both the UK Chamber of Shipping and BIMCO.
Commenting on the appointment, John Denholm, Chairman of the International
Chamber of Shipping, 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, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, said:
“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.”
