Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has announced the appointment of Royal Caribbean International (RCI) managing director Australia and New Zealand, Gavin Smith, as its new Chairman, following the association’s annual general meeting in Sydney yesterday.
Mr Smith, who previously serves as CLIA Australasia Chairman from 2011 to 2015, takes over from outgoing Chairman Sture Myrmell, the President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia, who concludes his two-year term.
As CLIA Australasia Chairman, Mr Smith leads a newly formed Executive Committee that also comprises Stuart Allison (Princess Cruises), Ben Angell (Norwegian Cruise Line), Sarina Bratton (Ponant), Lynne Clarke (MSC Cruises), Steve Odell (Regent Seven Seas Cruises & Oceania Cruises), Andrew Millmore (Windstar Cruises, Virgin Voyages), and Sture Myrmell (P&O Cruises Australia).
CLIA Australasia managing director, Joel Katz, said Mr Smith brings exceptional industry experience and leadership to the association at a time when the cruise sector is working to establish a new foundation for its future operations.
“Gavin Smith has been a well-known and respected leader for our industry for several decades, having been a key player in the growth and evolution of cruising in Australasia and the South Pacific,” Mr Katz said. “He will provide invaluable guidance for our organisation as we work to confront the unprecedented challenges ahead of us and rebuild confidence through the new health measures cruise lines are developing.”
Mr Katz thanked Mr Myrmell for his dedication to CLIA and paid tribute to his work as Chairman.
“Sture Myrmell has been a committed and authoritative leader for CLIA as our industry capped off an exceptional period of growth and development within Australasia,” Mr Katz said. “He has been a big part of our success as an industry and will continue to be an important contributor to CLIA as we address the testing environment of this new decade.”
