Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of SeaDream Yacht Club, who has been with the mega-yacht line since its 2001 founding, has stepped down, SeaDream said in an official statement. Atle Brynestad, owner and chairman of SeaDream, has taken over the CEO duties.
When contacted for additional details, Ernest Beyl, SeaDream’s director of corporate and marketing communications, told Travel Agent “I am unable to comment beyond what is in the press release.” Travel Agent also contacted Pimentel to discuss the announcement, but had not heard back at presstime.
An agent-friendly executive, the popular Pimentel is known for his expertise in marketing luxury travel products to affluent consumers. He has a reputation as a compelling educator, lecturer and writer, and he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for Questex Media’s Luxury Travel Expo (Questex is the publisher of Travel Agent). Prior to the founding of SeaDream Yacht Club, Pimentel held posts as president and CEO of Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line and earlier as president and CEO of Classic Hawaii.
Brynestad, who along with Pimentel founded SeaDream, has significant luxury cruising experience. He also founded Seabourn Cruise Line in 1987, served as its CEO during the initial years, and was Seabourn’s chairman for a decade. Brynestad also is a former chairman of Cunard Line Ltd. and former board member of Carnival Cruise Lines.
SeaDream Yacht Club operates SeaDream I and SeaDream II, elegant twin mega-yacht cruisers that sail on mostly seven-day voyages in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Greek Islands, the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia and into the Black Sea.