American P&I Club appoints first female CEO in 167 years

The American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association (the American Club) has appointed its first female chief executive officer (CEO) in its 167-year history, replacing long-serving boss Joe Hughes.

Dorothea Ioannou (pictured), currently deputy chief operating officer of Shipowners Claims Bureau (SCB), the Managers of the American P&I Club, will succeed Hughes as CEO from August.

After 27 years’ service, Hughes will stand down as CEO of Managers of American P&I Club SCB.

At the same time, Vince Solarino will step down as chief operating officer of SCB after a similar length of service to that of Hughes, with Dan Tadros, presently chief legal and compliance officer, taking over the role of COO from Solarino.

Hughes and Solarino will remain as chairman and president, respectively, of SCB to focus on the transitioning of its day-to-day operational roles.

Ioannou joined SCB in 2005, initially as a claims executive and subsequently rising to become the general manager of the office in 2009, regional business development director in 2013 and global director of business development for the American Club in 2015.

As part of SCB’s succession plan, Ioannou relocated to the company’s head office in New York in 2018. Having been appointed deputy COO some three years ago, and Secretary to the American Club in 2020.

According to the company, Ioannou is making history as the first woman to ascend to the top executive position of an International Group P&I club in the 167 year history of the marine mutuals.

Ioannou said she was “thrilled and excited with this new appointment, which as a woman carries with it not only responsibility and significance for our organisation, but also, as a first in the P&I sector, for the marine insurance industry in general.”

“I have from the start been proud of working with SCB, the American Club and EOM and the team of talented professionals across the world with whom I have spent the last 17 years. I have been particularly privileged by the mentorship of Joe and Vince and I look forward to building on the achievements of the past to generate yet further success in the future,” she said.

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