Larry Pimentel, a long-time luxury cruise executive, has resigned as president and CEO of Azamara.
Pimentel resigned on April 15, as Azamara parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. laid off or furloughed about 26 percent of its 5,000-person workforce in the U.S.
"Larry told me earlier this week that, after deliberating how best to help Azamara bear the impact of today's cutbacks, he decided that the time was right for him to step down from leading the brand," RCCL Chairman and CEO Richard Fain wrote in a memo to employees. "In saying farewell to Larry, we are losing one of the finest minds and one of the very best people in the travel industry. He is an original thinker, an entrepreneur, and someone whose informed, considered opinions helped raise the bar not only at Azamara but at RCL over the past 11 years. He's also been a counselor and mentor to countless individuals across the company."
Fain said that Azamara COO Carol Cabezas "and the rest of her team are well-prepared to carry on as we move forward through these challenging days."
Pimentel took the helm of Azamara in 2009. He positioned the three-ship line as one offering Destination Immersion experiences, meaning longer stays, more overnights and night touring in port cities around the world.
"Larry is a true industry icon whose shoes can never be filled by anyone else. I applaud his leadership and sacrifice during these difficult times," said Vicky Garcia, COO and co-owner of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. "It saddens me to see him go because he's brilliant, inspiring, and kind, but we are happy for him in this next chapter."
Before joining Azamara, Pimentel was president and CEO of SeaDream Yacht Club, a privately held luxury yachting company. At Carnival Corp., he served as president and CEO of Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line. He was previously president and CEO of Classic Hawaii, a tour operating company.
Pimentel is an in-demand speaker, writer and educator. He was Distinguished Lecturer at Cornell's School of Hotel Administration and has led marketing seminars for Harvard Business School, Ritz-Carlton Company, Bloomberg and others.
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