Ambassador Cruise Line has made three executive management team appointments.
Phil Gardner has joined as chief commercial officer, Matthias Seeger is now chief financial officer, while Nick Hughes takes up the position of chief operating officer.
Ambassador said they will bring “substantial cruise and wider business experience to the enterprise”.
Gardner, who most recently was chief commercial officer at Fosun Tourism, said: “To be joining Britain’s newest cruise line, with the prospect of building on the amazing start Ambassador has made and be part of growing the business, was a compelling proposition.”
Seeger added he was “looking forward to further defining the company’s financial plan and expanding the strategic finance function”, while Hughes highlighted the line’s “clear vision and commitment to environmental protection” as an “overwhelming attraction” for the role.
Gardner and Seeger will start their roles on 1 February, with Hughes joining in March.
As a result of these changes, Chris Coates will transition into a consultancy role as ‘ambassador-at-large’, operating from June onwards in a part-time capacity.
In addition, Simon Weeks, who has been working in an interim capacity as CFO, will now move to a new position as chief administrative officer.
CEO Christian Verhounig said: “I am very excited to formally welcome Matthias, Phil and Nick to the Ambassador family.
“Their expertise from both within and outside the cruise industry will bring extremely valuable and diverse knowledge to the business, further accelerating Ambassador’s growth plans to be the leading premium-value, authentic cruise line.”
Ambassador Cruise Line: No-fly cruising from the UK
Last week (27 January 2022), Ambassador announced the purchase of a second ship.
The 1,200-guest Ambition has been brought from Costa and will enter service in 2023 with a programme of regional departures from ports such as Newcastle, Dundee, Belfast, Liverpool, Bristol and Falmouth.
It will follow Ambience, which launches in April 2022, sailing from London Tilbury.
Travel agents can benefit from Ambassador’s agent concession scheme, which features discounted fares for the 2022/2023 maiden season on Ambience.
