Michael Ungerer to leave AIDA to become new COO for Carnival Asia

Michael Ungerer, the current president of Germany-based AIDA Cruises, has been appointed chief operations officer for Shared Services at Carnival Asia, from 1 September 2015.

Ungerer, who joined AIDA in 1997 and has been president of AIDA Cruises since July 2012, will relocate to Shanghai, China, and directly support each of the Carnival Corporation brands operating in the region. He will report to Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group (which includes AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises), and a China-based steering committee comprising the Carnival Corporation brands operating in the region.

“The moves are an important part of our growth strategy in Asia,” said Alan Buckelew, COO for Carnival Corporation. “We thank Michael for his nearly two decades of exceptional leadership in helping develop AIDA into one of our most profitable and popular cruise brands and the market leader in Germany. We have every confidence that Michael’s leadership will have a major impact in his new role for Carnival Corporation in Asia, where we are the leading cruise company and expect significant growth opportunities, especially in China.”

Felix Eichhorn will replace Ungerer as president of AIDA and report to Thamm. Eichhorn, who started his career at AIDA Cruises, held various positions onshore and onboard before assuming his current role as senior vice president of Sales, Yield Management and Flight Operations. He assumed responsibility for the sales and revenue management of AIDA Cruises and Costa Germany in 2013.

“We look forward to adding Felix to our senior leadership team and having him continue the great momentum that AIDA Cruises has established as one of the top cruise lines in the world,” said Thamm.