The Columbia Group has appointed Christina Orfanidou as Head of AI to drive the responsible, human-centered use of AI to increase productivity and sustainability.
In her new role, Orfanidou is responsible for the Group-wide AI strategy and its implementation. The focus is on practical solutions with measurable added value that are supported by the specialist departments. The aim is to modernize work processes, realize efficiency gains and at the same time ensure ethical, transparent and compliant use of AI.
Prior to joining Columbia Group, Orfanidou was Head of AI Services at Deloitte Cyprus. She also worked on several large-scale projects for the European Commission, collaborating with Acer, DG Connect and EFSA, among others. Her focus was on the implementation of AI solutions based on robust data and governance structures.
“The appointment of Christina Orfanidou shows that AI is being used in the company in a targeted, responsible manner and with a clear focus on people – as an enabler for productivity, sustainability and the modernization of the maritime industry,” emphasizes Mark O’Neil, CEO and President of the Columbia Group.
At Columbia Group, Orfanidou wants to show how AI can significantly increase efficiency – for example by reducing document creation times from hours to minutes. AI is not intended to replace jobs, but to relieve employees and give them more space for strategic, value-adding activities. According to Orfanidou, the focus is on aspects such as work-life balance, scalability and satisfaction.
There are also plans to set up an internal “AI Factory” within the company, which will work closely with the individual business units and develop tailored applications. In this way, AI should remain firmly anchored in the operational business and enable productivity growth without having to rely exclusively on additional new hires. Initial AI applications are focusing on internal processes, including automated office activities, knowledge management and modernized crew deployment systems.
