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CLIA reappoints chairman for another year
Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Cruises, has been reappointed as chairman of CLIA Europe.
The unanimous decision was made by the CLIA Europe Board, which is in charge of providing strategic direction to Europe’s cruise industry association.
Vago was first appointed to lead the European branch in November 2013 and has recently completed his two-year term.
The association’s bylaws allows a chairman to be re-elected for an extra one-year term.
The Board has also voted to make Kyriakos Anastassiadis, CEO of Celestyal Cruises, a permanent member of CLIA Europe’s Executive Committee.
Anastassiadis will take on the role of representing the views and interests of the smaller CLIA Europe members.
The remaining members of the Executive Committee, as confirmed by the Board, are: David Dingle, chairman of Carnival UK and CLIA Europe vice chairman; Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, chairman of Silversea Cruises; Dominic Paul, VP International of Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises and MD, RCL Cruises Ltd; and Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group.
Raphael von Heereman, secretary general of CLIA Europe, said: "Pierfrancesco has been instrumental to CLIA Europe’s success over the last two years.
“Thanks to his restless support, Europe’s cruise industry leaders are now more dedicated to the association’s day-to-day work than ever before. He has helped us to greatly expand our effectiveness in Brussels and other European capitals, in terms of government affairs, communication and business development.
“As a result we have notably increased the added value that we bring to our Cruise Line members and executive partners.”
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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