AmaWaterways UK boss Stuart Perl has left the river cruise line as the business announces a management restructure.
Sales, marketing and digital director Jamie Loizou will now head the UK team, working closely with newly-appointed international sales director, Marnie Tarsinos.
Perl leaves AmaWaterways after four years as managing director of the UK office.
Rudi Schreiner, co-founder and president of the river cruise line, said: “The travel agency community in the UK and North America has played a critical role in the success that AmaWaterways has achieved over the past 18 years.
“As we transition into our next stage of growth, we are excited about the opportunity that exists, and look forward to continue building strong partnerships and developing new trade relationships within this key market.”
He added: “Stuart has built an incredible team at our office in the UK.
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“Kristin, Gary and I are incredibly appreciative of his efforts and wish him best of luck as he moves on to pursue other endeavours.”
Perl said: “It has been an enormously rewarding experience over the last four years to build an outstanding UK team that has significantly grown the sales and brand awareness of AmaWaterways through our trade partners.
“I am sure that from such strong foundations, the company will go from strength to strength and I wish them every success for the future.”
AmaWaterways opened a UK office in Guildford in 2016 having previously been represented by Fred. Olsen Travel, under the leadership of managing director Steve Williams.
Perl’s career includes stints as marketing director for Cunard Line, managing director for Peter Deilmann River & Ocean Cruises and running his own company as UK representative for river cruise lines selling groups and charters through the UK travel trade.
AmaWaterways bolstered its trade sales team last year when it appointed Rachel Simon, a former major account manager for Royal Caribbean Cruises, as business development manager, overseeing the southwest and central England.
The team is led by national sales manager Jon Knight. Previously, the on-the-road sales team consisted of Knight and Joanne Smithies, who covered the south and north of the country respectively.
AmaWaterways was established in 2002 by river cruise veteran Schreiner and co-owner Kristin Karst.
The line added three ships to its fleet last year, including 196-passenger AmaMagna, which is twice the width of traditional European river ships.