Director
Ioannis Zafirakis has served as a Director of
the Company since April 2021. He has also served as the Company’s President,
Secretary and Interim Chief Financial Officer from November 2021 to April 2023.
Mr. Zafirakis is also member of the Executive Committee of the Company.
He has served as a Director of Diana Shipping Inc. from
February 2005. He has also been the Co-Chief Financial Officer since January
2025, having previously served as Diana Shipping Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer
from February 2020 (Interim Chief Financial Officer until February 2021). In
addition, he has held the role of Treasurer since February 2020 and he is also
the Chief Strategy Officer of Diana Shipping Inc.
Mr. Zafirakis is also member of the Executive Committee of
Diana Shipping Inc. He has held various
executive positions such as Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice-President
and Vice-President. In addition, Mr. Zafirakis has served as the Chief Strategy
Officer and Co-Chief Financial Officer of Diana Shipping Services S.A. since
January 2025. Prior to this, he was Diana Shipping Services S.A, Chief
Financial Officer from March 2020 (Interim Financial Officer until February
2021) and continues to hold the positions of Director and Treasurer.
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.)
(NASDAQ: PSHG), where he held various executive positions such as Chief
Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. Mr Zafirakis, currently also acts
as Director, President, Secretary and Treasurer for Sea Transportation Inc.
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.