A new boss has taken the helm at Princess Cruises succeeding Jan Swartz who steered the brand through the pandemic.
John Padgett has been chief experience and innovation officer for parent company Carnival Corporation since 2014.
He was a key player in developing and implementing the Princess MedallionClass wearable device and Ocean technology platform.
As new president of 14-ship Princess Cruises, Pedgett will report to Swartz, now group president of Holland America Group, which includes the Princess, Holland America Line, Seabourn and P&O Cruises Australia brands.
Swartz had been president of Princess Cruises for eight years.
Padgett previously worked for 18 years at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts where he spearheaded the invention, development and implementation of guest engagement innovations including the MagicBand, FastPass+ and Disney’s Magical Express.
Swartz said: “John is the mastermind behind our state-of-the-art Ocean platform and was a key player in our fleet transformation, working closely with Princess team members in virtually every area of our operation to enable the MedallionClass experience for all our guests.
“John’s vision, drive and performance, combined with his commitment to providing the best guest experience in the industry, have helped position Princess for success well into the future.
“We warmly welcome John to the role and look forward to his stewardship as we navigate this fast-changing, dynamic environment.”
Padgett added: “Carnival Corporation’s cruise brand portfolio, global fleets, destinations and most importantly dedicated shipboard and shoreside teams have provided an unmatched platform to drive guest-focused innovation.
“The opportunity to lead the iconic Princess brand and to help take the cruise content – including hotel, food and beverage, entertainment, merchandise and destination experiences – to new levels is an absolute honour.”