Christopher J. Wiernicki
Director, and ABS, Chairman, President and CEO and Chairman of ABS Group of Companies, Inc.
Chris is Chairman, President & CEO of ABS and Chairman of the ABS Group of Companies, Inc. He previously served as Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies and held senior roles at ABS, including President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Technology Officer and President and COO of ABS Europe Ltd.
Chris is a Fellow with the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. In 2013, he was awarded the Vice Admiral Emory S. Land Medal for outstanding accomplishment in the marine field. In 2016, he earned the United Seaman’s Service Admiral of the Ocean Seas Award for outstanding contributions to the maritime industry and is a member of the International Maritime Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
Chris received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Maine Maritime Academy and SUNY Maritime College, and an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology. In 2017, he was named Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s Person of the Year. In 2018, he was named the International Personality of the Year at the annual Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards and was recognized as one of the top 50 influential people by Tanker Shipping & Trade magazine. Chris was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2021 for innovative leadership in the design, engineering and operation of ships and offshore structures.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Vanderbilt and was inducted to Vanderbilt University School of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni. He holds a master’s degree in structural engineering from George Washington University where he was elected to the George Washington University Engineering Hall of Fame. He also holds a master’s degree in ocean engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and completed Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program.
Chris lectures at the university level on topics ranging from leadership to technology and serves on the Webb Institute Board of Trustees along with other numerous University Boards and Advisory Councils.
