CLIA Appoints New Gov’t and Public Affairs Representative East Med

Maria Deligianni is the new Government and Public Affairs Representative for Eastern Mediterranean at CLIA.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has appointed Maria Deligianni as Government and Public Affairs Representative Eastern Mediterranean.

Maria will be based in Athens, and will report to the Secretary General of CLIA Europe.

“This new position strengthens our presence in Europe and allows us to build closer and stronger ties with all stakeholders in the Eastern Mediterranean,” said Andreas Chrysostomou, acting Secretary General of CLIA Europe.

The announcement was made during CLIA’s reception at the Posidonia 2018 international shipping exhibition, which is taking place until June 8, in Athens.

Kyriakos Anastasiadis, Maria Deligianni, Andreas Chrysostomou.

“Maria will work closely with shipping organizations – especially of Greek interests – to ensure that there is a common vision among the broad shipping community including cruising,” said Kyriakos Anastassiadis, Chairman of CLIA Europe and CEO of Celestyal Cruises. “Cruising is closely related to shipping in terms of environmental sustainability and is actively contributing into the safeguarding of our planet and oceans for future generations,” he added.

Maria joins CLIA from the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) where she worked as  as senior Policy Advisor Maritime safety, Environment and Offshore. Previously she spent time at the European commission’s DG mobility and transport; the SQE Marine group and PriceWaterhousecoopers.

Andreas Chrysostomou, acting Secretary General of CLIA Europe; Maria Deligianni CLIA Government and Public Affairs Representative East Med; Kyriakos Anastasiadis, President CLIA Europe; Eleni Polychronopoulou, President, HEMEXPO at the Posidonia 2018 Exhibition.

Maria studied Political Science and Public Administration in Athens. She holds an MSc in International and European Studies from the University of Piraeus and an executive Masters degree in Maritime Science from the University of Ghent in Belgium.

“I really look forward to joining CLIA and working to develop this new role building the reputation of the cruising industry in the East Mediterranean. My goal is to demonstrate the importance of the East Mediterranean region for the cruise industry and try to open up new destinations,” Maria Deligianni said.