Christina Orfanidou heads AI department at Columbia Group

Columbia Group has appointed Christina Orfanidou as the head of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) department. This decision reflects the company’s strategic commitment to introducing AI responsibly and human-centered, aiming to enhance productivity and sustainability in the maritime industry.

In her new role, Orfanidou will lead the AI strategy and its implementation at Columbia Group. Her focus will be on developing practical, business-oriented solutions that deliver measurable value. Her responsibilities include achieving productivity gains, modernizing workflows, and ensuring that AI is used ethically, transparently, and in accordance with evolving global regulations.

Prior to her transition to Columbia Group, Orfanidou served as the head of AI services at Deloitte Cyprus. She has also contributed to significant initiatives of the European Commission and collaborated with agencies such as ACER, DG CONNECT, and EFSA, where she led projects for the introduction of AI with a strong focus on data and AI governance.

Orfanidou plans to demonstrate how AI can significantly increase efficiency by reducing document creation time from hours to minutes. This allows employees to focus on more strategic tasks. In her view, AI is not intended to replace jobs but to enhance work-life balance, scalability, and job satisfaction.

“AI is not technology for technology’s sake,” Orfanidou stated. “At Columbia Group, we see AI as a tool for increasing productivity and empowering our employees, addressing real operational challenges and modernizing shipping for the next generation of talent.”

Orfanidou will advance plans to establish an AI factory within Columbia Group, which will work closely with business units to develop tailored AI solutions. This model ensures that AI remains integrated into the company and does not operate in isolated technical teams, thereby promoting productivity growth without the constant need to hire new employees.

The AI initiatives under her leadership will initially focus on internal processes, where risks are lower and impacts are immediately noticeable. These include AI agents that handle repetitive office tasks, internal knowledge management tools, and modernized systems for crew placement.