The director of Ponant’s National Geographic partnership has been hired by Hurtigruten Expeditions.
Alastair Newton has become director of expedition operations for the Norwegian line.
He has led more than 150 expeditions, worked on 15 different ships and explored more than 100 countries, including multiple visits to the North Pole.
Newton is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, holds a private pilot’s licence and has spent 15 years working as an expedition leader in Alaska, the Pacific and Antarctica.
He has previously worked for companies such as Cruise West, Polar Star, Lindblad and Noble Caledonia.
Newton started his expedition career as a wilderness guide in Denali National Park in Alaska in 2001, having studied Arctic biology at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.
He said: “I got into the industry from a passion for wildlife and science education. My number one goal is to structure our global team to further develop the global industry’s leading science and education programme – wrapped in the world’s most sustainable expeditions.
“As I became an expedition leader focussed on remote parts of Alaska, Russia, and the Pacific islands, this helped me open guest’s eyes to native cultures and bring respect and understanding.
“I became passionate about remote places, and local culture and experiences centred in respect and cultural exchange.
“My goal is for Hurtigruten Expeditions to help guests deeply understand and appreciate the destinations we visit together through placing the spotlight on our exceptional expedition teams.
“It is paramount for me to empower the expedition teams to realise their full potential and to help guests appreciate the full value of the teams.”
Hurtigruten Expeditions’ operations senior vice president Iain McNeill added: “Alastair’s incredible experience from expeditions in the Arctic, Antarctica, Alaska, the Pacific and in all the exciting waters in between, sets us on track to realise our ambitions to be the world leader in sustainable expeditions on all the world’s oceans.”