Diana Shipping has created a new deputy chief executive position, effective immediately, as part of a succession plan for company founder, chairman and chief executive Simeon Palios.

Semiramis Paliou, a company executive and Palios' daughter, has stepped into the new role while keeping her current posts as a director since 2015 and chief operating officer since 2018.

The New York-listed owner expects Palios to "remain fully engaged" in his position as company leader.