Former Crystal Cruises boss Edie Rodriguez, who left abruptly last month, has landed a new job with French small ship line Ponant.
She has been named as the French company’s Americas brand chairman and corporate special advisor.
Rodriguez, chief executive and president of Crystal for four years before being replaced in September by Disney veteran Tom Wolber, will be responsible for increasing Ponant’s brand awareness in the Americas, especially with travel agents, media, influencers, and prospective passengers.
Ponant Americas chief executive Navin Sawhney said: “For the last several years now, Ponant has been building a solid strategy for the American market and has the means to achieve its objectives.
“Given our strong ambitions and the real potential of this market, I am happy to see our team strengthened by the arrival of Edie Rodriguez.”
Rodriguez has been hired to help to increase brand awareness and sales growth, as well as working with the company’s corporate headquarter teams on several unspecified new projects.
Sawhney remains responsible for company profit and loss, strategy definition and implementation, the company said.
Chief executive and Ponant founder Jean Emmanuel Sauvée said: “With two great seasoned cruise industry experts like Navin and Edie in our team, I’m convinced that Ponant in the USA will achieve its full capability in terms of market share.
“Ponant should not only be known as a French luxury expedition cruise line, but for what we really are: the world leader in luxury expeditions and the best cultural international cruise line with that special French touch.”
Rodriguez said: “I have known Ponant for the last 10 years as they have led the global expedition cruise industry expansion and I have always thought that their ships are perfectly appointed to deliver an unmatched cruise experience.
“I am proud to help the Ponant brand achieve recognition and realise its ambitions for growth in USA and the Americas at the level it deserves.
“As well, the passion of Ponant’s founder, coupled with the strength in the global luxury marketplace of their ownership, ensures the brand’s success going forward.”