Azamara Cruises CEO Larry Pimentel has stepped down to ‘bear the impact’ of job cuts, as parent Royal Caribbean Cruises announced 26% of US positions will go.
It is laying off or furloughing more than 1,000.
Cruise veteran Pimental had been at the helm for more than a decade and is credited with implementing the line’s successful ‘destination immersion’ brand positioning.
"We are losing one of the finest minds and one of the very best people in the travel industry. He is an original thinker, an entrepreneur, and someone whose informed, considered opinions helped raise the bar," said RCCL chairman and CEO Richard Fain.
Azamara COO Carol Cabezas steps up as new chief executive.
She has been at Royal Caribbean for nearly 20 years.
Before moving to Azamara, Cabezas was VP of investor relations and prior to that, spent a decade at Celebrity Cruises.
She held various positions at Celebrity including North America VP of national and strategic accounts.
