By
Rebecca Gibson |
Celestyal Cruises’ CEO Kyriakos Anastassiadis has been appointed as the next chairman of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Europe.
First appointed to the European Executive Committee of CLIA in 2013, Anastassiadis will replace Pierfrancesco Vago, who has been CLIA Europe chairman for the past three years and is also executive chairman of MSC Cruises.
Anastassiadis will represent the views of all CLIA Europe Cruise Line Members like Celestyal when he takes up the role on 1 January 2017.
“I feel honoured and humbled by the General Assembly’s trust in me as CLIA Europe chair and I look forward to continuing the work and effectiveness of CLIA Europe in representing all of its members and ensuring the future success of the cruise industry,” said Anastassiadis. “We have an effective team of professionals working at CLIA and are developing a stronger presence in Europe. I remain fully committed to matching my peers’ trust with my outmost dedication during the upcoming years.”
Pierfrancesco Vago will remain a member of CLIA Europe’s Executive Committee alongside David Dingle, chairman of Carnival UK and CLIA Europe vice chairman; Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, chairman of Silversea Cruises; Gavin Smith, senior vice president of international at Royal Caribbean; and Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group.
“I would like to welcome the appointment of Kyriakos and I look forward to working with him,” said Raphael von Heereman, secretary general of CLIA Europe. “I also thank Pierfrancesco for his restless support and help in expanding our effectiveness in Brussels and other European capitals, in terms of government affairs, communication and business development. As a result, we have notably increased the value that we bring to our Cruise Line Members and Executive Partners.”