Explora Journeys has expanded its executive leadership team with two appointments.
Norbert Stiekema has taken up the role of chief commercial officer, responsible for all business-related aspects of the brand and supporting the launch of the operations of Explora I.
Stiekema has more than 30 years of industry experience working across a range of leadership roles in Europe and the Middle East where he most recently worked for Cruise Saudi as chief sales and marketing officer.
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He previously spent eight years working at Costa Cruises as the line’s chief digital and strategy officer and prior to that worked as vice-president of sales and distribution EMEA for the Walt Disney Company.
Vanessa Vollmann has been appointed head of people and is responsible for all human resources at the brand’s headquarters in Geneva.
She previously held HR roles at Roger Dubuis, Procter and Gamble and Tag Heuer.
Both Stiekema and Vollman will report to Michael Ungerer, chief executive of Explora Journeys.
The line’s first ship, Explora I, will take its maiden voyage from Southampton on July 17.
Ungerer said: “As we gear up for the launch of our first vessel later this year and the subsequent launch of our entire fleet of six vessels in a five year window, we need the best team to allow our brand to reach to achieve its true potential in the luxury cruise segment.
“This is why I am so pleased to have two supremely experienced professionals with their extensive experience in hospitality and travel and in high-end luxury consumer goods joining our leadership team at this juncture in our journey.
“They have joined at the start of an organic growth trajectory the likes of which has never been seen before in our segment.”