by Donald Wood
Last updated: 1:40 PM ET, Thu August 15, 2024
Ben Clement takes over as Executive Vice President, Maritime & New Builds, effective January 2025. (Photo Credit: Carnival Corporation Media)
WHY IT RATES: The major
cruise line announced a leadership shakeup.—Donald Wood, Breaking News Senior
Writer.
Carnival Cruise Line today announced that Ben Clement will
assume the role of executive vice president, maritime & new builds,
effective January 2025.
Clement, a 28-year veteran of the company, currently serves
as senior vice president, new builds, refurbishments and product development,
and will move into his new expanded role when Lars Ljoen, currently Carnival’s
chief operations officer, transitions to Carnival Corporation as the company’s
new chief maritime officer.
Clement joined Carnival in 1996 and has played a leadership
role in the design, refurbishment and building of all of the line’s 27-ship
fleet over the last two decades. His innovative approach to ship and product
design has allowed Carnival to introduce new classes of ships – including the
Dream, Vista and Excel classes – as well as innovations such as the first
roller coasters at sea.
“Ben has continually pushed us to think about ship design,
features, venues and products in ways that have helped redefine Carnival, grow
guest loyalty and build a vibrant customer base that has propelled our growth,”
said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Yet he is also an
outstanding mariner, with vast knowledge and experience acquired during his
time in the French navy, merchant marine, and shipyard management. That unique
combination of talent and experience across so many aspects of maritime
operations will allow us to maintain our leadership in operational and cultural
excellence.
Clement is a native of France, and prior to joining
Carnival, served as a navigation officer in the French navy, an officer on
multiple merchant ships, and as a director at a shipyard in Toulon, France. He
holds a diploma of merchant marine officer, was the valedictorian of his class
for the French navy officers school and is a graduate of the Stanford
University School of Business executive program.
In addition to his new build and refurbishment
responsibilities, Clement will lead Carnival’s maritime operations, technical
operations and compliance functions. With five new ships on order – including a
completely new class of ship – Carnival will backfill his current role to
support the successful delivery of those ships that begin to arrive in 2027.
SOURCE: Carnival Cruise
Line press release.
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