London – The Mission to Seafarers has announced the appointment of Guy Platten as its new Chair, succeeding Tom Boardley.
A Chartered Master Mariner and one of the maritime industry’s most respected figures, Mr. Platten brings more than four decades of senior leadership experience to the role, most recently serving as Secretary General and CEO of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
He began his career at sea with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, and that grounding has shaped a professional life defined by commitment to the people who keep global trade moving. Named in Lloyd’s List’s top 20 most influential figures in the industry, he has held senior executive and board-level positions across international trade associations, government-owned entities, and charitable organisations.
During his tenure as CEO of the ICS, representing owners and operators of more than 80% of the world’s merchant fleet, he led the industry’s global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully lobbying governments to grant seafarers ‘key worker’ status and driving lasting improvements to seafarer welfare standards. He was awarded the Merchant Navy Medal in recognition of this work.
Commented Guy Platten: “I am deeply honoured to take on the role of Chair of the Mission to Seafarers. This is not merely a new professional chapter for me – it is a homecoming of sorts. Having spent years at sea myself, I know firsthand the loneliness, danger, and sacrifice that seafarers face every day. The Mission was a beacon of support then, and I have never lost my admiration for the extraordinary, often unsung, work they do to support seafarers and their families. I look forward to giving back to an organisation that has given and continues to give so much.”