Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has announced a significant organisational restructure in the UK and Ireland and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) management teams. Jo Rzymowska is promoted to managing director, UK and Ireland; Robin Shaw becomes vice president, managing director, Europe; and Sarah Newman is promoted to regional vice president, commercial director EMEA.

The changes see Rzymowska, formerly sales and marketing director for Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises in the UK and Ireland, promoted to managing director, UK and Ireland, overseeing the company’s brands. 

Rzymowska has played a significant role in the rapid growth of the UK and Ireland business, including successfully restructuring the sales and marketing teams and the delivery of the “Easy To Do Business With” initiative for trade business partners. In addition to sales and marketing responsibilities, her new role will entail managing operations, working closely with Paul Randall, operations director, UK and Ireland, who now will report to her. Rzymowska is charged with continuing to move the business forward during its busiest year ever in the region. 

 

Shaw, previously managing director, UK and Ireland, is promoted to a new position in the company - vice president, managing director, Europe. Shaw has been instrumental in increasing the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises market shares in the UK and Ireland from 9% in 2004, to 16% today.  In his new role, he will assume responsibility for all country operations in Europe and oversee the dynamic growth of these markets. Shaw will continue to report to Susan Hooper, senior vice president, managing director, EMEA, in his new position.  Both Shaw and Ryzmowska joined the company in 2005.

 

Newman, newly promoted to the role of regional vice president, commercial director, EMEA, will manage the central functions of marketing, PR, sales, distribution and operations for EMEA.  Working closely with Shaw, she will continue to report directly to Hooper. Since joining the company in January 2007, Newman has developed several significant strategic initiatives to ensure brand consistency globally. 

 

All three executives will remain based at the European headquarters of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd in Addlestone, Surrey.

 

Commenting on the restructuring, Susan Hooper, senior vice president, managing director, EMEA, said:

 

“It is with great pleasure and pride that I announce these significant promotions within the European management team. These changes are the result of the dynamic and positive performance of the region to date; in fact, the company’s business has more than doubled in size in the UK and Ireland in the last three years. The promotions also mark a very exciting prelude to 2008 - expected to be our busiest year ever in the UK and Ireland.”
——-