Management Team

Semiramis Paliou has served as a Director of Diana Shipping Inc. since March 2015, and as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chairperson of the Executive Committee and member of the Sustainability Committee since March 2021. Ms. Paliou has been the Chief Executive Officer of Diana Shipping Services S.A. since March 2021. She also serves as a Director of OceanPal Inc. since April 2021 and as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of OceanPal Inc. since November 2021. Ms. Paliou is the Chairperson of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA), a position she has held since June 2020, while she joined its board of directors in March 2018. As of July 2023, she serves as Chairperson of INTERMEPA. She is also a member of the board of directors of the UK P&I Club since November 2020, member of the board of directors of the Union of Greek Shipowners since February 2022 and member of the board of directors of the Global Maritime Forum since April 2022. She is Vice-Chairperson of the Greek committee of Det Norske Veritas, a member of the Greek committee of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, Bureau Veritas, American Bureau of Shipping and Hellenic War Risks.

Ms. Paliou has over 20 years of experience in shipping operations, technical management and crewing. She began her career at Lloyd’s Register of Shipping where she worked as a trainee ship surveyor from 1996 to 1998. She was then employed by Diana Shipping Agencies S.A. From 2007 to 2010 she was employed as a Director and President of Alpha Sigma Shipping Corp. From February 2010 to November 2015, she was the Head of the Operations, Technical and Crew department of Diana Shipping Services S.A. From November 2015 to October 2016, she served as Vice-President of the same company. From November 2016 to the end of July 2018, she served as Managing Director and Head of the Technical, Operations, Crew and Supply department of Unitized Ocean Transport Limited. From November 2018 to February 2020, she worked as Chief Operating Officer of Performance Shipping Inc. (ex. Diana Containerships Inc.). From October 2019 until February 2021, Ms. Paliou served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Diana Shipping Inc. She also served as member of the Executive Committee and the Chief Operating Officer of the Company from August 2018 until February 2021.

Ms. Paliou obtained her BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London and her MSc in Naval Architecture from University College, London. She completed courses in “Finance for Senior Executives”, in “Authentic Leader Development” and a certificate program on “Sustainable Business Strategy” all at Harvard Business School. Ms. Paliou is also the daughter of Simeon Palios, the Company’s Chairman.

Anastasios C. Margaronis has served as President and a Director of Diana Shipping Inc. since February 2005. He is also member of the Executive Committee of the Company. Mr. Margaronis is the Deputy President of Diana Shipping Services S.A., where he also serves as a Director and Secretary. Mr. Margaronis has experience in the shipping industry, including in ship finance and insurance, since 1980. Prior to February 21, 2005, Mr. Margaronis was employed by Diana Shipping Agencies S.A. in 1979 and performed on our behalf the services he now performs as President. He joined Diana Shipping Agencies S.A. in 1979 and has been responsible for overseeing our vessels’ insurance matters, including hull and machinery, protection and indemnity and war risks insurances. From January 2010 to February 2020, he served as Director and President of Performance Shipping Inc. (ex. Diana Containerships Inc.).

In addition, Mr. Margaronis is a member of the Greek National Committee of the American Bureau of Shipping. He has also been on the Members’ Committee of the Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited since October 2022. From October 2005 to October 2019, he was a member of the board of directors of the United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association (Europe) Limited.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Warwick and a master’s of science degree in Maritime Law from the Wales Institute of Science and Technology.

Ioannis Zafirakis has served as a Director and Secretary of Diana Shipping Inc. since February 2005 and Chief Financial Officer (Interim Chief Financial Officer until February 2021) and Treasurer since February 2020 and he is also the Chief Strategy Officer of the Company. Mr. Zafirakis is also member of the Executive Committee of the Company. Mr. Zafirakis has held various executive positions such as Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice-President and Vice-President. In addition, Mr. Zafirakis is the Chief Financial Officer of Diana Shipping Services S.A., where he also serves as Director and Treasurer. Also, he has served as a Director of OceanPal Inc. since April 2021. He has also served as the President, Secretary and Interim Chief Financial Officer of OceanPal Inc. from November 2021 to April 2023. He is also member of the Executive Committee of OceanPal Inc.

From June 1997 to February 2005, Mr. Zafirakis was employed by Diana Shipping Agencies S.A., where he held a number of positions in finance and accounting. From January 2010 to February 2020, he also served as Director and Secretary of Performance Shipping Inc. (ex. Diana Containerships Inc.), where he held various executive positions such as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer.

Mr. Zafirakis is a member of the Business Advisory Committee of the Shipping Programs of ALBA Graduate Business School at The American College of Greece. In 2024, Mr. Zafirakis attended and completed the Advanced Management Programme at INSEAD Business School in Singapore. Mr. Zafirakis has also obtained a certificate in “Blockchain Economics: An Introduction to Cryptocurrencies” from Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences in Greece. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies from City University Business School in London and a master’s degree in International Transport from the University of Wales in Cardiff.

Maria Dede is the Chief Accounting Officer of Diana Shipping Inc., a position she has held since September 2005. Since Mach 2020, she also serves as the Finance Manager and Chief Accounting Officer of Diana Shipping Services S.A.

In 2000, Ms. Dede joined the Athens branch of Arthur Andersen, which merged with Ernst and Young (Hellas) in 2002, where she served as an external auditor of shipping companies until 2005. From 1996 to 2000 Ms. Dede was employed by Venus Enterprises S.A., a ship-management company, where she held a number of positions primarily in accounting and supplies.

Ms. Dede holds a Bachelor’s degree in Maritime Studies from the University of Piraeus, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the ALBA Graduate Business School and a Master’s degree in Auditing and Accounting from the Greek Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Margarita Veniou has served as the Chief Corporate Development, Governance & Communications Officer of Diana Shipping Inc. since July 2022. From September 2004 until June 2022, she served in the Corporate Planning & Governance Department of Diana Shipping Inc., holding various positions as Associate, Officer and Manager.  Ms. Veniou is also the Corporate Development, Governance & Communications Manager of Diana Shipping Services S.A., a position she has held since 2022, and from 2004 to 2022 she held various other positions at Diana Shipping Services S.A. In addition, since November 2021, Ms. Veniou has served as the Chief Corporate Development & Governance Officer of OceanPal Inc. and she has also served as the company’s Board Secretary since April 2023. She is the General Manager of Steamship Shipbroking Enterprises Inc., a position she has held since April 2014.

From January 2010 to February 2020, Ms. Veniou also held the position of Corporate Planning & Governance Officer of Performance Shipping Inc. (ex. Diana Containerships Inc.).

Ms. Veniou holds a bachelor’s degree in Maritime Studies and a master’s degree in Maritime Economics & Policy from the University of Piraeus, Greece. She completed the Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Responsibility course at the London Business School and has obtained the Certification in Shipping Derivatives from the Athens University of Economics and Business. Ms. Veniou is also a member of WISTA Hellas and ISO 14001 certified by Lloyd’s Register.

Maria-Christina Tsemani has served as the Company’s Chief People Officer since July 2022. Ms. Tsemani also serves as HR Manager of Diana Shipping Services S.A., a position she has held since October 2020.

Ms. Tsemani has over 20 years of experience in HR positions with multinational companies and institutional bodies. Before joining Diana Shipping, Ms. Tsemani was People Acquisition and Development Manager of Vodafone Greece. During her career in Vodafone from 2008 to 2020, she held various other positions, including Senior HR Business Partner and Organizational Effectiveness and Reward Manager. From 2004 to 2008, Ms. Tsemani worked as a Senior HR Consultant in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). From 2001 to 2004, she served as Project Manager in the European Commission, based in Luxembourg.

Ms. Tsemani holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Sciences and a master’s of science degree in Applied Statistics from the University of Oxford, UK.