MSC Group has named industry veteran Michael Ungerer as CEO of its new luxury brand.
The 53-year-old Austrian joins MSC with over 30 years of senior management experience in cruising as well as in luxury hospitality.
He previously worked in Shanghai for Carnival Asia as chief operating officer and founded Ariela Ventures in December 2018.
He will be based at MCS’s global headquarters in Geneva and will report to Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s cruises business and broader passenger division.
Vago said: "For us, this was a natural progression of the work done across our contemporary brand MSC Cruises since its inception, including with the development of our highly-successful premium ship-within-the-ship concept MSC Yacht Club.
"Central to our new luxury brand will be above all respect for the environment – with the introduction of new ground-breaking technologies – as well as innovation in both hardware and experience, two core MSC values that extend to all our business. To this end, Michael – whom I wish to welcome to the broader MSC family – brings to the table precious and deep industry- and luxury-specific experience as well as personal and professional values that are aligned with our own."
Earlier this year, MSC confirmed a €2 billion order for four luxury cruise ships to be built by Fincantieri.
The first will be delivered by Spring 2023 and the rest will come into service one per year over the following three years through 2026.
