Aurora Expeditions has appointed Monique Ponfoort as chief executive officer, commencing October 2020.

Monique Ponfoort joins the business from Ponant and Paul Gauguin Cruises where she held the position of vice president and general manager for Asia Pacific.

She replaces Robert Halfpenny, who resigned from the Australian small-ship company in May.

Chairman of the board, Neville Buch, commented: “Monique is an impressive executive and her extensive experience in the cruise and travel industry will be of enormous value to Aurora Expeditions. The board and I are delighted that Monique has agreed to join us.

“We have a very exciting future ahead of us with our second vessel, the Sylvia Earle arriving in 2021 and further vessel plans in the pipeline.

“Monique’s experience and skills will really help Aurora Expeditions in the future expansion of the business and ensure we continue to provide the unique life-changing travel experiences that we do, in a small intimate vessel environment.”

Monique Ponfoort said: “I am thrilled to be joining Aurora Expeditions as CEO in October 2020. I was drawn to the growth and forward-thinking of the business together with their true passion in delivering outstanding expeditions and guests’ experiences to some of the most remote and unique places and cultures in the world.

“I look forward to building on this incredible 28 years of history and to achieve further success in the years to come.”

Neville Buch will continue working in an executive chairman role until Monique Ponfoort’s start date.

Visit auroraexpeditions.co.uk for more information.