Andreas Hadjipetrou on Columbia Shipmanagement’s basic principles for the proper management of human resources

Suggesting that shipping, energy, technology, hospitality and leisure are sectors in which a person, through any technological means, produces action and the result of serving another person, the Managing Director of Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd in Cyprus and Chief Commercial Officer of the group, Andreas Hadjipetrou, emphasises that, for the company, this factor, i.e. the human factor, is the most important component.

In an interview with InBusinessNews, Hadjipetrou talks about a circular process centered on people, noting that diversity, inclusion, balance, education, training, development and well-being are basic principles for the proper management of human potential.

As he points out, challenges are not addressed by a headless system, they are addressed by people and are successfully addressed when there are teams that follow a leadership vision with shared values ​​and goals.

Adaptability and flexibility are, according to him, the key words for dealing with any challenges.

What human resource management practices do consider make Columbia Shipmanagement stand out?

We are all competitors in shaping a modern human-centered corporate culture. Every colleague, wherever he is in our group, knows our shared values ​​and our philosophy.

The only practice I will mention is the reminder of these values ​​and the ‘icare’ action, through internal actions and communication campaigns organised by our headquarters in Cyprus, with colleagues in each country as recipients and participants.

What does the productive man represent to you?

All our activities concern and serve people. It is a human-centered circular process.

Shipping, energy, technology, hospitality and leisure are areas in which a person, by any technological means, produces action and the result of serving another person.

So for us, this factor is the most important component, the beginning and end, since it is our people who work and deliver to meet the needs of millions of other people globally, and it is the feedback they receive that reshapes the offering.

A circular process that starts with our people and ends with them.

In an environment with intense challenges, what are the conditions today for proper human resources management in an organisation that aims for its sustainable development?

Diversity, inclusion, balance, education, training, development, well-being are basic principles for the proper management of human resources.

Organisms have human DNA with the difference that humans age but organisms grow, so adaptability and flexibility are key words to face any challenges.

But challenges are not faced by a headless system, they are considered by people and are successfully faced when there are groups that follow a leadership vision with shared values ​​and goals.

• Who is who

The company, a member of the international Columbia Group active in shipping, employs 20,000 people worldwide and is based in Limassol.

From health and wellness initiatives, to its open door communication policy, the company has a commitment to an environment where every member feels valued and empowered is at the center.

It promotes inclusive diversity among staff to leverage talent.

The company provides benefits such as flexible working hours and the grant of educational advancement programmes.

*Columbia Shipmanagement was nominated in the IN Business Awards 2023 in the Best Workplace/Employer of Choice category.

(Source: InBusinessNews)