By
Rebecca Gibson |
Travel executive Wybcke Meier is to replace Richard Vogel as CEO of TUI Cruises on 1 October 2014.
As CEO of TUI Cruises, Meier will assume responsibility of the Mein Schiff fleet, which has expanded to three ships after its latest newbuild, Mein Schiff 3, was christened on 12 June in Hamburg, Germany. She will work in collaboration with TUI Cruises’ CFO Frank Kuhlmann.
"We believe in the cruise industry as growth market,” said TUI CEO Fritz Joussen. “Following its start-up and early growth phase, TUI Cruises will now enter its expansion phase. Wybcke Meier will play an instrumental role in shaping and designing that phase, acting in concert with the strong team at TUI Cruises.”
Currently the managing director of Windrose Finest Travel and OFT, Meier previously worked as marketing and sales director for Öger Tours and has also held positions at Fischer Reisen, C&N and the Hamburg-based travel shopping channel ‘Via 1 - Schöner Reisen’.
“We are delighted that Wybcke Meier is joining TUI Cruises,” said Richard Fain, CEO and chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “We believe that she will further develop the successful company and TUI Cruises brand, which has been winning the trust of the German customers.”
Last week, TUI announced that Vogel would be leaving the company to pursue a management position elsewhere. Vogel has served as chairman of the TUI Cruises board since April 2008 and has succeeded in establishing the brand as the second-largest operator in the German cruise market. Under Vogel’s leadership, the company launched its first ship Mein Schiff 1 in May 2009 and Mein Schiff 2 in May 2011. On 12 June, German singer Helene Fischer christened the latest newbuild, Mein Schiff 3, during a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany. The line will also debut Mein Schiff 4 in 2015.