Board of Directors
Theodora Riga
President of MedCruise
The 65th MedCruise General Assembly that was held in Malaga, Spain, in 2024, elected Ms Theodora Riga, Chief Commercial Officer and Director of Strategic Communications at the Port of Thessaloniki as the new President of the Association representing ports and stakeholders related to the cruise business in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas.
“I firmly believe in the value of collective action, or as we say in Greek “it is in unity, we stand strong”. With a vision to continue the work we have done so well, we are going to upgrade our activities and achieve even more, together, while ensuring the responsible development of cruising and benefiting all Mediterranean ports and destinations” said Theodora Riga following her election.
Born in 1973 in the USA, Theodora Riga holds an MBA in Business Administration and has held senior managerial positions in port, shipping and financial services companies over the last 20 years. Ms. Riga is a member of the National Cruise Committee and a Board Member of a shipping company listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, as Commercial Director and as Management Consultant on Strategic Development, Sales, Marketing and Communication in the largest shipping companies in Greece, providing communication support to the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies.
Theodora Riga is also a Member of the Board of Directors of Thessaloniki Tourism Organization and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping Representative on the Hellenic Government’s National Cruise Committee.
Theodora Riga succeeds Figen Ayan, Chief Officer at Galataport Istanbul, who will continue her involvement with the Association as Honorary President and elected Board of Directors member.
In addition to electing its new President, MedCruise also announced the new Board of Directors (BoD) for the term 2024-2027. The elected members are:
Anne-Marie Spinosi, elected as Senior Vice President (Corsica Ports, France), Laura Cimaglia elected as Vice President (Port of Taranto, Italy), Valeria Mangiarotti (Sardinian Ports, Italy), Cristina De Gregori (Port of Genoa/Savona, Italy), Luz Marina Espiau Moreno (Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain), Joško Šupe (Port of Šibenik Authority, Croatia), Dario Barbarić (Dubrovnik Port Authority, Croatia), Maria Belkoleva (Port of Burgas, Bulgaria), Lorenzo Vera Franco (Port Authority of Motril, Spain), Genoveva Climent (Port Authority of Tarragona, Spain), Figen Ayan (Galataport Istanbul, Türkiye), Kyriaki Kampana (Heraklion Port Authority, Greece), Gilson Cruz (Ports of Cabo Verde, Cabo Verde) and Angelos Vlachos (Kavala Port Authority, Greece).
