Mark O’Neil is President and CEO of Columbia Group, where he has overseen the company’s transformation into a diversified maritime services organisation with a strong emphasis on technology, people, sustainability and inclusion. He is also CEO of Schoeller Holdings. A former English Army Officer and maritime lawyer, Mark spent 17 years as Partner with Stephenson Harwood LLP and Reed Smith LLP, where he co-led the firm’s Offshore Department and headed up Reed Smith’s German Shipping Team. His work advising shipowners, charterers, banks, insurers, oil companies and contractors across the German, Scandinavian, Greek, Dutch, South American and Cypriot markets gave him deep insight into the global shipping, ship management, banking and offshore sectors. Since taking the helm at Columbia Group, Mark has championed initiatives that place people and performance at the centre of maritime progress. He has expanded Columbia’s reach across technical and crew management, digital platforms, cruise and superyacht services, and energy transition projects, while also driving new collaborative ventures such as COLUMBIA blue. Central to his leadership has been a commitment to seafarer welfare, diversity and inclusion, the digitalisation of ship management, and the integration of sustainability and ESG into the Group’s activities. A recognised voice in the industry, Mark chairs and speaks at leading maritime and banking conferences worldwide. In 2025, his focus remains on ensuring Columbia Group leads the conversation around digital transformation, seafarer welfare, diversity and sustainable shipping – issues he believes will define the next phase of global maritime.