Simos P. Palios has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Diana Shipping Inc. since February 2005 and a Director of the Company since March 1999. He served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from February 2005 until February 2021. Mr. Palios also serves as the President of Diana Shipping Services S.A. which was formed in 1986. Mr. Palios has experience in the shipping industry since 1969 and expertise in technical and operational issues. He has served as an ensign in the Greek Navy for the inspection of passenger boats on behalf of Ministry of Merchant Marine and is qualified as a naval architect and marine engineer. Mr. Palios was the founder of Diana Shipping Agencies S.A., where he served as Managing Director until November 2004, having the overall responsibility for its activities. From January 13, 2010 until February 28, 2022, Mr. Palios also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Performance Shipping Inc. (ex. Diana Containerships Inc.) and as Chief Executive Officer until October 2020.
Mr. Palios is a member of various leading classification societies worldwide and he is a member of the board of directors of the United Kingdom Freight Demurrage and Defense Association Limited. Since October 7, 2015, Mr. Palios has served as President of the Association “Friends of Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens”. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from Durham University.