Shipowner Cesare d’Amico is taking on the role of chief executive of d’Amico Group’s dry cargo division, with son Emanuele as managing director.
The move is designed to ensure continuity and a bigger role for a younger generation of managers at the Italian shipping company.
The changes have been prompted by the passing of d'Amico Group's bulker supremo Lucio Bonaso, who died in February aged 72.
Bonaso had worked with the d’Amico family for 23 years and had been chief executive of its Monte Carlo-based dry division since 2012.
Consolidate leadership
Cesare is well known to the dry bulk sector, where he has been involved in the company's strategic decisions relating to the dry cargo business unit.
His new role involves overseeing the operation of a fleet of 50 vessels, of which 44 are eco-designs.
Most operate in the post-panamax, kamsarmax, supramax and handy segments.
An additional 20 vessels are chartered-in on a short-term basis and are mainly operated on the spot market.
"I will endeavour to consolidate the company's leadership position in the sector, at a stage that I think will allow us to put a period of strong uncertainty and volatility behind us,” Cesare d’Amico said.
“And above all, I want to put my experience at the disposal of the young managers who are already rising to positions of responsibility in our organisational structure."
Emanuele steps up
Cesare d’Amico will combine the running of the dry desk with his role as CEO of Rome-based holding company d'Amico Societa di Navigazione.
He is also director of Milan-listed product tanker company d’Amico International Shipping and chairman of Standard Club.
But he will be helped in the role by his son, Emanuele, who is assigned overall management of the core dry business functions.
Emanuele is part of the third generation of the d’Amico family.
Since 2015, he has worked as general manager of d’Amico’s dry cargo business in Monaco.
In that role, he focused on handling relationships with Japanese business partners, sale-and-purchase activities, as well as the medium to long term strategy for the dry bulk company.
He is a member of several boards of d’Amico companies, including d’Amico Dry, the operating entity of the dry cargo business unit.
d’Amico Group confirmed the role of Benjamin Wilkes as chief operating officer of dry bulk operations and Giovanni Capello as its chief financial officer.
