Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) this week announced several organization changes at the executive level, including Oceania Cruises president and CEO Bob Binder’s transition from that role to vice chairman of NCLH. Binder will now report to Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of NCLH.
Accordingly, Howard Sherman, the current executive vice president, onboard revenue and destination services for NCLH, will move into Binder’s role at Oceania Cruises, effective January 1, 2022. Simultaneously, Ross Henderson will succeed Sherman in his role with NCLH.
Binder is the co-founder of Oceania Cruises and played a vital role the development and growth of the brand since its inception. During his tenure, he has overseen virtually every facet of the brand’s global operations, including marketing, sales, public relations, e-commerce, brand finance and guest services. Binder led the growth of the brand with the design and development of the line’s Marina and Riviera and spearheaded the “OceaniaNEXT” brand evolution initiative. He has served as president and CEO of Oceania Cruises since September 2016 and as vice chairman, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises since May 2015. Prior to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ acquisition of Prestige Cruises International, he served as vice chairman of Prestige since May 2011 and president of Prestige since January 2008, where he oversaw the global expansion of the Prestige brands and was responsible for sales, marketing and branding efforts internationally.
“For me, these last two decades have been the journey of a lifetime—from being a cofounder fortunate enough to be able to help conceive and create Oceania Cruises 19 years ago to seeing it grow and flourish as we traversed calm seas and challenging storms,” Binder said in a Facebook post. “We’ve built a cruise line like no other and shared so many great times along the way, and I hope you are as proud of what we have accomplished together as I am.”
He added: “I’m so honored to have been part of the best shoreside and onboard team in the world, and I offer my heartfelt thanks to the thousands of dedicated men and women who work tirelessly to craft and constantly enhance the magic of our experience. I also want to express my gratitude to Frank Del Rio for having the vision to create it and the perseverance to sustain that vision all these years.”
Speaking on the appointment of Howard Sherman to the role of president and CEO of Oceania Cruises, Del Rio said, “Howard is a long-standing company and cruise industry veteran who will bring extensive experience, innovative leadership and a fresh perspective to continue to elevate the Oceania Cruises brand, particularly as the line embarks on its next chapter with the upcoming introduction of the next generation Allura Class ships beginning with Vista in April 2023.”
Sherman has served as EVP, onboard revenue and destination services of NCLH since September 2016 and as EVP, revenue management from February 2015 until September 2016. In his current role, Sherman oversees a range of departments, including Air and Sea, Casino Operations, Onboard Revenue, Destination Services, Commercial Development, Government Relations, Itinerary Planning and Land-Based Construction Projects. Prior to NCLH’s acquisition of Prestige, Sherman held various roles at Prestige from 2003 to 2014, including EVP, revenue management and chief revenue officer, senior vice president, revenue management and vice president of yield and inventory management.
Lastly, Ross Henderson has been promoted to EVP, onboard revenue and destination services as Sherman’s successor. Henderson currently serves as senior vice president, onboard revenue for NCLH. In this role, he is responsible for driving revenue across a variety of onboard products and services on all three of the company’s brands. Prior to joining Norwegian in 2009 as vice president, onboard revenue, Henderson spent six years managing key onboard revenue departments and analytics for Princess Cruises.
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