Holland America Line has announced that Orlando Ashford will join the company as president to lead the award-winning cruise line from December 1st. 

He joins the company from Mercer, the global consulting leader in talent, health, retirement and investments, where he was president of the Talent Business Segment.

“We are fortunate to have Orlando join our team, bringing with him a career’s worth of global experience leading high-performance teams that helped innovate some of the most respected and well-known companies in the world,” said Stein Kruse, chief executive officer, Holland America Group.

“I am confident that Orlando’s leadership will enable Holland America Line to build on its uncompromising Signature of Excellence commitment, to deliver a superior guest experience that will continue generating rave reviews from our guests, travel professionals and the industry alike.”

Ashford will oversee Holland America Line’s sales and marketing, revenue management, deployment and itinerary planning, public relations, hotel operations and strategy. 

He will report to Kruse, and will be part of the group’s executive leadership team, alongside.

“Holland America Line is a remarkable and highly respected company that delivers exceptional experiences and indelible memories of joy and adventure to its guests,” said Ashford.

“It’s a noble mission, and I am eager to get to work with this talented group of service-minded employees to unleash new ideas, while building on the success of this thriving global business.”

Prior to his role at Mercer, Ashford served as senior vice president, chief human resources and communications officer of Mercer’s parent company, Marsh & McLennan Companies.

He has also held several other leadership roles during the course of his career, including group director of human resources for 90 countries in Eurasia and Africa for the Coca-Cola Company and vice president Corporate Center human resources and cultural transformation.