Hurtigruten and HX have announced a new leadership structure in the Asia Pacific region, as the two cruise brands finalise their separation.
Damian Perry, who led the formerly combined company, will now guide a dedicated Hurtigruten Norway APAC team, mirroring the structure across the rest of the world. Supporting Perry will be Marisa Jones, who will move up from the role of Marketing Manager to become Hurtigruten’s Head of Marketing. Over the next month, the Norway-based cruise line will also recruit for a Head of Sales APAC position.
Additionally, the United States-based Steve Smotrys will steer HX’s Australian leadership team, expanding from his current role overseeing the Americas market. He will be aided in Australia by Director of Sales Amber Wilson, who like Perry, formerly served both brands.
The move will ensure the two cruise lines maintain a strong presence in Australia, and can progress further ambitions for their guests from the region.
“We will offer our same committed and robust expertise across our fleet of nine ships – which has recently seen the addition of MS Midnatsol – always prioritising safety and customer experience,” Perry said. “Additionally, we’re looking to continue expanding our tour range and packaging to meet the local market’s demands.”
HX Chief Commercial Officer Alex Delamere-White added, “by creating a dedicated HX team with strong B2B leadership, we are reinforcing our commitment to Australia”.
“This new structure ensures we have the resources and leadership needed to unlock the region’s potential [and] achieve long-term growth,” he said.
