World-class marine and safety servicing provider EPSCO Group is focused on the voyage ahead after transitioning to a new generation of leadership. Co-CEO’s Maria Ioannou and Loukia Ioannou shared their future plans, in conversation with Imogen Ward.
After three decades of leadership, Founder & Business Consultant Andreas Ioannou marks a new chapter in the company’s history as ownership transitions to his daughters, Maria Ioannou and Loukia Ioannou, who have formally acquired the business. Having grown up within the company, Maria and Loukia bring first-hand knowledge of its operations, culture and long-term strategy.
The sisters now take on full responsibility for its direction and performance, focused on strengthening the business and driving its continued growth.
“This new chapter is less about changing direction and more about widening the horizon,” revealed CEO Maria Ioannou. “We have a huge amount of respect for what our father has achieved over the years, and at the same time, a real shared excitement for what comes next.”
A lifelong legacy
Mr Ioannou founded EPSCO more than 30 years ago, with a desire to create a company dedicated to marine services that held safety, honesty and integrity above all else. He not only met this vision but exceeded it during his time at the company.
“Our father has taught us a lot over the years,” said CEO Loukia Ioannou. “He taught us the value of hard work and the importance of honesty, integrity and doing what is right, even when it is tough. He always reminded us that real success comes from not taking shortcuts or compromising our values and that we should treat people with the same respect and fairness we expect ourselves.
“Celebrating our father’s legacy is not just about looking to the past, but carrying those values forward every day, through the choices we make and the way we work to support others. We are focused on honouring his example and continuing the lessons he shared with us, both now and in the future.”
The relationships EPSCO has made along the way reflect these same values and will continue to play an important role in the company moving forward. This includes a whole host of long-standing suppliers who have been crucial to the company’s success (at least 40% have supported EPSCO since the beginning). Their ongoing dedication means a lot to the business as it plans for the future.
“We have had the privilege of working with many outstanding partners over the years, and we place great value on the shared trust and quality relationships we have built with them,” said Loukia. “Our goal is to foster partnerships that feel like true extensions of our team rather than just transactional relationships, and by sharing ideas and developing a strong mutual understanding, we believe we can face challenges more effectively together.
“We are excited to see how these relationships continue to evolve under our leadership.”
A fresh, new look
To mark the transition from father to daughters, the company has implemented a recent rebranded that represents a perfect balance between honouring Mr Ioannou’s legacy and marking the move into the future.
“The rebrand felt like a very natural next step for us,” Loukia explained. “It respects everything our father has built over the years, while also signalling our readiness to embrace new ideas, expand the business and continue evolving in the future. More than anything, it helps ensure that the company’s identity reflects both the heritage we are proud of and the developments we a moving towards.”
Maria noted that balancing this change was challenging early on, especially when trying to harness the excitement of the moment without allowing it to overshadow the need for careful planning and thoughtful decision-making. While there was a strong sense of optimism and anticipation about the future, the CEO emphasised the importance of taking a measured approach.
“We want to push forward new ideas,” added Maria. “Change is always exciting, but it takes a lot of patience and teamwork to ensure success while also preserving the values and culture that define who we are.”
A plan in action
Though the finer details are still under wraps, the Co-CEOs revealed that the Rotterdam service station will play a significant role in the company’s next phase of growth. The facility is already recognised as a major success within the organisation and has swiftly become a cornerstone for EPSCO’s quality guarantee, enhancing the company’s reputation for consistency and technical excellence.
The company aims to extend the station’s capabilities and expand into new sectors. This decision aligns perfectly with the changing demands of the industry and EPSCO’s own long-term vision for growth.
Once completed, these developments will lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth and will build on the station’s proven ability to support existing clients.
This impressive performance over the past three years ensured the station maintained strict quality control processes while delivering consistently high standards of marine safety and technical services. The facility operated reliably to support clients.
EPSCO is also looking to expand its presence in the oil and gas sector, a competitive area that has historically been challenging to enter. Recognising the complexities and rigorous standards of the industry, the company’s leadership team is actively assessing the necessary approvals and regulations to ensure a successful expansion into the industry.
Regardless of the challenges ahead, EPSCO remains committed to turning ambition into action. With a clear vision and a proactive growth strategy, the company aims to turn opportunities into long-term progress. This ambition follows the same principles of quality, integrity and reliability that were laid out by Mr Ioannou years ago.
“We are investing in the right people and building strong, trusted partnerships,” Loukia said, in conclusion. “Strengthening our foundation is vital for the future we envision for the company, and we believe we can only achieve this by carefully listening to our partners and our team and making thoughtful decisions together.
“As we enter this next chapter, our focus remains clear: to grow with purpose, stay true to our values and ensure that every step we take leads to a stronger, more resilient business.”