Lindblad Expeditions Appoints Dolf Berle President, CEO

WHY IT RATES: Berle will help advise the company’s leadership team on business strategy and growth opportunities. —Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse Senior Writer

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Dolf Berle as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board, effective May 10, 2021. Mr. Berle succeeds Sven-Olof Lindblad, who will become Co-Chair of the Board, together with Mark Ein, current Board Chair.

In his role as Co-Chair, Mr. Lindblad will work with his fellow Directors to advise the Company’s leadership team on business strategy and growth opportunities, including reaching new audiences, innovating new products and developing new geographies, as well as focus on energizing new and existent social programs. Mr. Ein will partner with Mr. Lindblad to help guide the Board and the Company’s organic growth, acquisition and financial strategy.

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Mr. Berle currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Topgolf Entertainment Group where he has led the company’s overall vision, global growth strategies and P&L, since 2018. Previously, Mr. Berle served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the CEO of Lindblad Expeditions since founding the Company in 1979, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished over the last 40 years. We've built a business based on the respect and understanding of geography and connecting our more than hundreds of thousands of loyal guests and new audiences worldwide with nature, culture and an opportunity to explore the world. Today, Lindblad Expeditions has the most talented employees in the industry, a best-in class platform of high-quality and authentic experiential offerings, a passionate customer base eager to see the world’s most exceptional destinations with us, and a balanced growth strategy to take us into the future. We are thrilled for our guests to return to the same exhilarating expedition experience they have come to know and love when we resume voyages in two iconic destinations early this summer,” said Mr. Lindblad.

Mr. Lindblad continued, “I am very pleased to hand the baton to Dolf, who I have gotten to know well and for whom I have great respect and admiration. I am confident that his outstanding leadership, integrity and character make him the right choice to serve as our next leader. I look forward to my continuing involvement with the Company in my new role as Co-Chair and working closely with Mark, Dolf and the rest of the team to keep driving the business forward.”

“The Board and Sven have been working for some time to attract additional leadership talent and identify our next leader, and we believe that Dolf is the ideal candidate to serve as Lindblad Expeditions’ new CEO,” said Mr. Ein. “Dolf brings a track record of quickly expanding multi-unit businesses and championing technology innovations and understands the importance of delivering unmatched guest experiences and creating communities where guests want to return time and again – all of which is integral to our robust growth plans to create value for our stakeholders.”

Mr. Ein continued, “Over the past 40 years, Sven has built one of the world’s greatest expedition and adventure travel companies by pioneering innovative ways to connect people and places. It is because of his leadership that Lindblad Expeditions is synonymous with life-changing adventures for so many people. Today, the cornerstones of our business are extremely strong with significant pent-up customer demand, a growing portfolio of newly acquired exceptional travel businesses, and considerable financial flexibility to fuel additional future acquisitions and organic expansion opportunities as the travel industry begins to reopen. We are thrilled to have attracted Dolf to Lindblad and are grateful that the Company will continue to benefit from Sven’s wealth of experience and knowledge as we collectively execute on our growth strategy.”

Mr. Berle said, “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead such an iconic and vibrant Company. Lindblad Expeditions has an impressive four-decade track record delivering immersive and authentic experiences and a large, devoted customer base that looks to Lindblad and its brands for the highest-quality expedition and adventure travel experiences whether by ship, land or bike. The Company is well-positioned to capitalize on what it does best – inspiring loyal guests to explore and promote both conservation and environmental sustainability around the world. Sven has reimagined travel throughout his tenure, and, alongside the Lindblad Expeditions team, I am energized to build on his legacy and capture the vast and expanding market opportunities ahead.”

Separately in an 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today, Lindblad Expeditions announced that Sarah Farrell, an independent member of the Board of Directors, will be stepping down from the Board, effective immediately. With Ms. Farrell’s departure and upon Mr. Berle’s appointment, the Lindblad Expeditions Board will have 10 members.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Sarah for her contributions to Lindblad Expeditions over the past year, and wish her the best in her future endeavors,” said Mr. Ein.

In a separate press release issued today, Lindblad Expeditions announced that it will resume small ship expeditions cruises and adventure travel experience operations for the 2021 season in Alaska and Galapagos, beginning in the first week of June. In keeping with Lindblad Expeditions’ focus on exploring remote places, the Company will return to nature in the pristine wildness of these two iconic destinations, and will do so consistent with its health and safety protocols. Lindblad Expeditions intends to announce plans for activating additional geographies for the summer as logistics are finalized. The press release can be found on the Lindblad Expeditions Investor Relations website at investors.expeditions.com.

About Dolf Berle

Under Mr. Berle’s leadership at Topgolf Entertainment Group, total revenue nearly doubled in three years and eclipsed the $1.0 billion mark, and worldwide audience fan touchpoints also nearly doubled en route to passing 90 million. During his tenure, Mr. Berle expanded the company’s venue-based core business from 37 to 66 locations around the globe while also diversifying the company’s business model from venue-based entertainment to include a range of technology-enabled businesses.

In over 25 years of experience prior to joining Topgolf in 2018, Mr. Berle served in a variety of executive leadership roles in the public sector as well as private growth-oriented companies dedicated to joyful guest experiences. These include tenures as President and Chief Operating Officer of Dave and Buster's Entertainment, Inc.; Executive Vice President of Hospitality and Division Head for ClubCorp USA, Inc.; President of Lucky Strike Entertainment; and Chief Operating Officer of House of Blues Entertainment, Inc. He currently serves on the national boards of directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and USA Track & Field, as well as the Norman Rockwell Museum. Mr. Berle earned his undergraduate and MBA degrees from Harvard University, and a Master of Arts degree in African History from the University of Zimbabwe.

SOURCE: Lindblad Expeditions press release.