Royal Caribbean director of sales Stuart Byron will step down from his role in the new year to “take on a new challenge” outside of the industry.

Byron, who joined the line as interim sales director in March 2018, will take up his new role in 2024.

He has been sales director for the UK, Ireland and Spain for the past four years and, according to a Royal Caribbean spokesperson, has for the past four years “successfully” led his teams.

While the line seeks a replacement, the UK and Ireland sales leadership team will report to Nicki Lewis.

Byron’s Royal Caribbean departure comes after Kings-Hodkin

The announcement comes just two weeks after the company’s head of sales Torey Kings-Hodkin joined Disney Destinations International (DDI) as its new trade sales and marketing director.

Earlier this year, the line took delivery of Icon of the Seas – which is due to launch at the end of January 2024 – during a handover ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland following 900 days of construction.