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Columbia Group has appointed Ulla Eithz Nielsen as Deputy Chief Operating Officer (COO). This new position aims to strengthen the leadership of the company as the group continues to develop its integrated global platform for maritime services.
Eithz Nielsen brings over six years of experience in senior positions at V.Group, where she held various operational and executive roles, including that of Managing Director. She began her career at sea before moving to A.P. Moller – Maersk. Subsequently, she spent a decade at NORDEN, where she was responsible for process optimization, business applications, and business intelligence. These experiences shaped her later role at V.Group, where she was significantly involved in the development and implementation of company-wide operational models.
In her new role, Eithz Nielsen will work closely with Columbia’s leadership team to support operational alignment, organizational efficiency, and the long-term development of activities in ship management and related maritime services.
Leonid Zalenski, COO of Columbia Group, commented on Eithz Nielsen: “She has a strong operational mindset and a deep understanding of how maritime organizations need to be structured to operate consistently at scale. Her experience will support our focus on clarity, accountability, and effective execution within the group.”
Eithz Nielsen herself emphasized: “I look forward to working closely with the Columbia team as the group continues to invest in its operational platform and digital capabilities. I have been warmly welcomed and enjoy collaborating with Leonid and the rest of the leadership team.
Digitalization is a key concern for me, as it can simplify workflows, support better decision-making, and enable teams to spend more time on what matters when implemented correctly. Columbia already has a solid foundation in this area, and there is clear potential to build on it as the business evolves. Personally, the move to Cyprus has been a smooth transition, and the sun has certainly been a welcome bonus.”
