Columbia Group CEO departs with immediate effect

The president and CEO of one of shipping’s largest shipmanagement companies, Columbia Group, has left the company, according to a report from Tradewinds.

Mark O’Neil, formerly the CEO of Columbia Group and president of the group’s shipmanagement arm Columbia Shipmanagement, as well as CEO of the ownership holding company Schoeller Holdings left the company according to an internal company email from group and holding company chairman Heinrich Schoeller. 

Mr Schoeller reportedly notified staff that Mr O’Neil was "no longer with the company, effective immediately", the Tradewinds report said.

Riviera has contacted Columbia Group’s PR agency Elaborate Communications, who said the group had not yet released a public statement on Mr O’Neil’s departure. 

The email reportedly said that Columbia Group "remains committed to facilitating an orderly transition and upholding operational continuity,” wished Mr O’Neil "all the best for his future endeavours" and said Columbia Group would provide updates on the situation "in due course".

The report said that Mr O’Neil is set to be replaced by an interim CEO, Andreas Hadjipetrou, who has been Columbia Group’s chief commercial officer.