Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.(NASDAQ: NCLH) announced that Andy Stuart has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, effective immediately following the resignation of Drew Madsen. Stuart has been with Norwegian Cruise Line since 1988 and has held numerous leadership positions, most recently serving as Executive Vice President of Sales.
“Due to the recent restructuring of the role’s responsibilities, Drew has decided to step down. We are very grateful for his contributions and wish him all the best,” explains Frank Del Rio, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “As we continue to define the future organization of the company, we want to leverage Andy’s extensive knowledge of the company and the industry, along with the strong relationships he has built with our travel agents.”.
“Andy and Norwegian are practically synonymous, and he is well-loved and respected by our guests, travel agents, officers, crew, and team members. I am absolutely certain that appointing Andy Stuart as COO of Norwegian Cruise Line makes him the right leader for Norwegian’s next phase of growth,” Del Rio continued. In this role, Stuart will report directly to Del Rio. Stuart has played a key role in building the Norwegian brand, particularly in developing and marketing the Freestyle Cruising. He has also maintained and strengthened a close relationship with travel agents during the introduction of the Partners First, the company’s corporate philosophy that prioritizes travel agents. During his 27 years with the company, he has been responsible for key areas such as global sales, passenger services, profit maximization, marketing, and public relations. He has also served as Director of Products, responsible for delivering the Freestyle Cruising across the Norwegian fleet, ensuring that it provides exceptional value and quality for guests, in line with the company's marketing and brand positioning.
“Having witnessed Norwegian Cruise Line’s rapid growth throughout my career, I am truly excited to have been chosen to lead this incredible company as we continue to enhance and build the brand,” said Stuart. “The future is truly bright, and I look forward to continuing to work with our travel agents through our expanded sales team, delivering an exceptional product to our guests, in conjunction with our officers and crew, to ensure our team members are motivated and engaged, while we build value for our shareholders.”.
