Shipping and ship management group Columbia has secured the services of a senior manager from competitor OSM Thome following a reorganization of its crewing operations.
The Columbia Group – which also includes the MPP shipping company AAL, Hanse Bereederung and Columbia Shipmanagement – has appointed Simona Toma as Chief of Maritime HR. The new appointment was necessary due to the departure of Captain Faouzi Fradi.
There is talk of a “strategic restructuring” of the department. Toma comes to Columbia from OSM Thome in Singapore. In the future, she will take on a leadership role at C-level, overseeing both the crewing and training sides of the group.
“This restructuring comes as Captain Fradi steps down after a distinguished career with the Columbia Group,” the statement continued. As Director of Crewing and Training, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s HR department since its inception last year.
Toma joins other Columbia executives:
- Anca Preda, Director of Maritime HR (Cruise), was previously Crewing Fleet Manager for Columbia’s passenger fleet. “She brings valuable experience from her time at TUI Cruises/Mein Schiff in crew management and at Princess Cruises as HR Manager on board.
- Stewart Bankier, Group Director Crewing (Training), is a shipping professional with 27 years of service in the Navy, followed by stints with Bernard Schulte Management before joining Columbia last year.
- Captain Saurabh Mahesh, Director of Crewing (Operations), is a former seaman with a career spanning 30 years, including 19 years with A.P. Moller Maersk in various leadership roles in recruiting, training and crewing.
Prior to assuming the role of Managing Director at OSM Thome Singapore, Toma was responsible for the overall management operations of OSM Asia, overseeing technical management and crewing operations for around 100 vessels. Prior to that, she was Senior Crewing and HR Manager at Sea Team Management and General Manager of Marine HR at Maersk.
The statement continues: “The Columbia Group remains committed to aligning its human resources strategies with overall corporate objectives to ensure sustainable growth and a competitive advantage in the evolving maritime sector.” At the heart of this strategy is the company’s “icare” policy and code of conduct, “which promote a culture of professionalism, well-being and ethical standards for all crew members both at sea and ashore.”
Mark O’Neil, President of the Columbia Group, was delighted to “welcome Simona to the Maritime Human Resources Department with the support of Stewart and Captain Saurabh and congratulate Anca on her new role”.
He said the demand for shipboard crew and training was increasing, with a shortfall of 89,000 officers expected by next year, and the need to attract and retain the new generation of seafarers in a wonderfully diverse environment was vital to the future of shipping.
At the same time, he explicitly expressed his gratitude to Faouzi Fradi, who has helped shape crewing and training during his long career at Columbia. “His wealth of experience and industry knowledge has been of great value to the Columbia Group and we wish him all the best for the future,” added O’Neil.
