Carnival Corporation and plc has recently announced two important moves within its global leadership team as part of the company’s broader efforts to enhance operations and best prepare the organisation for the eventual resumption of cruising.
Josh Leibowitz – President of Seabourn
On 25 June it was announced that Josh Leibowitz had been appointed President of Seabourn with immediate effect. Josh’s responsibilities include oversight of all aspects of Seabourn’s operations, including revenue management; deployment and itinerary planning; hotel operations; and sales and marketing, and he will report to Holland America Group CEO, Stein Kruse.
Stein Kruse said: “Josh brings a wealth of experience that will guide Seabourn through the pause in our operations to emerge stronger than ever. As we always say, Seabourn offers the world’s finest ultra-luxury travel experience. I have no doubt that Josh and the rest of the Seabourn team will succeed in positioning the brand as an unrivalled competitor in the luxury market when our ships start sailing again.”
Leibowitz joined Carnival Corp & Plc in 2013 as Chief Strategy Officer, and was also named Senior Vice President, Cunard North America in December 2016.
Gustavo (Gus) Antorcha – President of Holland America Line
On 9 July, Stein Kruse welcomed the arrival of Gus Antorcha as President of Holland America Line with immediate effect.
Stein Kruse commented: “As President, Gus will lead sales and marketing; revenue management; deployment and itinerary planning; public relations; guest services operations; and strategic planning. He’ll report to me. I have known Gus for many years and am confident he will guide Holland America Line carefully as we prepare to resume our global operations in the next several months and beyond.”
Most recently Antorcha was Chief Operating Officer at Carnival Cruise Line. Before joining Carnival in 2010, he served as a partner and managing director for Boston Consulting Group, focused on the travel and leisure industry.
Neil Palomba, currently president of the company’s Italy-based Costa Cruises, has been named executive vice president and chief operations officer for Carnival Cruise Line, effective immediately, reporting directly to Christine Duffy, president of the brand. During Palomba’s transition, the Costa Cruises leadership team will continue to report to Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Group and Carnival Asia.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to continue enhancing our global operations, these moves clearly demonstrate the depth and strength of our leadership team,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation. “We are using this pause in guest operations to evaluate every aspect of our business, including our leadership structures, and make changes where appropriate to improve our business. Gus and Neil are both proven and strategic leaders within our organisation, and we are looking forward to their contributions and success in these new roles as we position our company and our brands for a bright future.”