The New Norwegian-Prestige: Who's in Charge?

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With Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises now part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, a new management team was formed with some executives departing and some getting new responsibilities.

Let’s start at the top. Kevin Sheehan is CEO and president of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line and Prestige Cruise Holdings Inc.

Oceania founder Frank J. Del Rio remains CEO of Prestige Cruise Holdings Inc., the parent company of Oceania and Regent.

Drew Madsen is the new president and COO of Norwegian Cruise Line. Hired in October, he joined Norwegian from Darden Restaurants, which operates chain restaurants including Olive Garden and Yard House.

Kunal S. Kamlani remains president and COO of Prestige Cruise Holdings, overseeing Oceania and Regent.

Bob Binder, vice chairman of Prestige and a member of the founding management team of Oceania, is departing the company.

Andy Stuart remains executive vice president at Norwegian Cruise Line, now only overseeing sales for that line. However, Stuart also becomes executive vice president of international sales and charters, meetings and incentives, in the new Shared Services division that includes all three cruise brands. He will work with Francis Riley, who becomes senior vice president-international; he was based in the U.K. but is relocating to Miami.

Camille Olivere, who was senior vice president-sales for Norwegian, has left the company.

James Rodriguez, who is senior vice president for Prestige Cruise Holdings, is leaving the company. His last day is Nov. 21. For most of his 12 years with the company, he was senior vice president of sales and marketing at Oceania. He also was heading up the Explorer Launch Team at Regent to prepare for the new ship due out in 2016.

“Speaking as a founding member of Oceania Cruises it is a very proud day for many of us,” Rodriguez told TravelPulse. “We worked very hard for this day to happen despite all the odds being against us in the beginning.”

Michael Hirsch, senior vice president of sales for Oceania, is retiring. Nikki Upshaw, who was vice president of field sales, moves up to senior vice president of sales for Oceania.

Randall Soy remains senior vice president of sales for Regent.

Maria Miller remains senior vice president-marketing for Norwegian Cruise Line. Harry Sommer is senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Prestige.

Other appointments in the Shared Services division are Michael Flesch, executive vice president-shipboard operations, and Crane Gladding, senior vice president-passenger services.

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