The Liberian Shipowners' Council will soon have a new master at the helm.
Kierstin Lachtman, CLIA's manager of maritime policy, will succeed Joe Ludwiczak as the agency's general secretary in February.
Ludwiczak will retire after leading the council for the past 17 years.
Lachtman will step down from her position with CLIA to serve as the council's new leader, spokesman Chris Hewer said.
Her responsibilities at CLIA include developing maritime policy with shipowner members and determining and coordinating shipping industry positions on safety, environmental, operational, and regulatory issues.
She also advocates CLIA members’ positions at regulatory and industry fora, including the International Maritime Organization, the council said.
“Kierstin is a highly motivated and accomplished maritime professional with a well-deserved reputation for informed advocacy on behalf of shipowners," chairman Adamantios Lemos said.
"We look forward to working with her to expand and strengthen LSC.”
Lemos also expressed "profound gratitude" for Ludwiczak's leadership since 2002.
"He will be greatly missed, but we are confident that our rigorous search process has provided us with an exceptional successor," he said.
The Liberian Shipowners’ Council is the voice of Liberian-flag shipowners, incorporated in 1974 as a non-profit corporation.
