By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Corporation & plc is to implement a new leadership structure from 1 December 2013.
Current president and CEO of Holland America Line Stein Kruse is to assume the role of CEO of the newly created Holland America Group, which comprises Princess Cruises, Seabourn and Holland America Princess Alaska land operations. Kruse will report to Carnival’s president and CEO Arnold Donald and manage the group’s 41 cruise ships and more than 36,000 global employees. In his expanded role, Kruse will also replace Micky Arison as chairman of the board of MANCO, a UK-based entity which oversees operations of Carnival Australia including P&O Cruises.
“This is an exciting expanded opportunity for Stein and the experience and track record of effective leadership he brings to it bodes well for our future,” said Donald.
Princess Cruises will also have a new leadership structure, with the line’s current president and CEO Alan Buckelew set to become Carnival’s chief operations officer. Reporting to president and CEO Arnold Donald, Buckelew will manage all of the company’s global maritime and port operations and collaborative functions, including IT, group strategy and global operations, ship retrofits, newbuilds, research and development, risk advisory and quality assurance. In addition, Buckelew, who has served in various executive positions at Princess Cruises, will be responsible for coordinating Carnival Asia and related activities in the Asia region.
Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises’ current executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer service will replace Buckelew as the line’s president. In her new role, Swartz will report to Holland America Group CEO Stein Kruse and oversee the Princess line’s worldwide operations, which includes 17 ships and 22,000 employees.
After retiring from his current role as Carnival’s vice chairman and chief operating officer, Howard Frank will serve as special advisor to the CEO and the chairman. He will also continue to represent the industry as chairman of CLIA.