Explora Journeys chief executive Michael Ungerer has stepped down due to “personal reasons”

Ungerer, who has held the position for nearly five years, has helped establish the new luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group and successfully launched the line’s first ship, Explora I.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chair of the Cruise Division of MSC Group, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside Michael as we have brought to life this incredible new brand and built everything from the bottom up. I would like to thank Michael for his efforts and contribution, and we wish him well for the future.”

Ungerer will remain as advisor for the brand through to the end of August 2024, and Vago will assume his responsibilities as CEO for the time being.

Explora Journeys role ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity’, says Ungerer

“Creating a new luxury hospitality brand from scratch in today’s world has been a true, once in a lifetime opportunity, and an incredible journey,” Ungerer said.

“It has been a real privilege working with the visionary Pierfrancesco Vago and the entire Aponte family, which I am forever grateful for. Their firm commitment and their long-term generational view, as only a family owned and operated company can, made it all possible.”

It comes after the line expanded its sales team for the UK and Ireland with the appointment of Koral Lipton.

Lipton, who was previously business development manager for APT Travel Group, joined the luxury firm as business relationship expert, bringing Explora Journeys’ sales team to five.