By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL) has named Michael Bayley as president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, and Lisa Lutoff-Perlo as president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises.
Both Bayley and Lutoff-Perlo, who have held senior positions within RCL for a number of years, will assume their new roles immediately and help to chart the future course of the company’s two largest cruise brands.
“This is a happy day for Michael and Lisa and a proud day for all of us at the company,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “To recognise these two incredibly talented people with these vital leadership positions after years of dedication, effort and innovative thinking is gratifying for everyone here. As a company, we have a mantra of continuous improvement; in Michael and Lisa, we have two talented leaders who will help us continue to deliver on that commitment to our shareholders, employees and guests.”
Bayley, who worked his way up from an assistant purser’s position onboard the Nordic Prince, assumed the role after a successful term as Celebrity’s president and CEO. At Celebrity, he delivered strong results while building the company’s ‘modern luxury’ brand. Before his Celebrity role, Bayley served in several senior roles at Royal Caribbean International, including executive vice president of operations. He is credited for playing a key role in the company’s international expansion, helping launch company operations in markets around the world.
“Royal Caribbean International is a brand with an incredible history – and unlimited potential,” said Bayley. “The ships, personified in the new Quantum class, are some of the best and most innovative in the world. And the crews that service Royal Caribbean International guests have a track record of delighting guests from every culture around the world. I look forward to an exciting future as we raise our game to an even higher level of performance.”
Lutoff-Perlo, who began her RCL career as a district sales manager in the New England office, previously served as executive vice president of operations at Royal Caribbean International, where she played a critical role in the recent successful launch of Quantum of the Seas. She also played a key role in the launch of Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager and Radiance classes, as well as Celebrity’s Solstice Class.
“Celebrity Cruises has done a remarkable job differentiating itself in a crowded and competitive premium marketplace, and with its newly announced Edge-class ships, the brand has the opportunity to push its leadership position even farther,” said Lutoff-Perlo. “I’m excited to tackle that challenge with a team of men and women I know well, including crews that consistently exceed our guests’ highest expectations.”