Lars Ljoen has been chosen as Carnival Corporation’s next chief maritime officer.
He will replace Vice Admiral William R (Bill) Burke, who has announced his retirement from February 1, 2025.
Mr Ljoen is currently chief operations officer of the group’s flagship Carnival Cruise Line brand. He will take over from Mr Burke next February, and oversee all aspects of maritime operations for the Carnival group.
Mr Ljoen will also be responsible for strategic destination development and will oversee management of the company’s owned and operated ports.
“Lars is the obvious choice for this vital role, given his deep knowledge of our industry, his pedigree of success in key senior-level positions in the company, and his ability to consistently deliver operational excellence and business results for our largest global cruise line,” said Josh Weinstein, Carnival Corporation & plc’s CEO. “Notably, his leadership during one of the most challenging times in our industry helped Carnival Cruise Line successfully navigate the operational pause and quickly reclaim its title as the world’s largest and most popular cruise line – an important driver of our company comeback.
“As we remain laser focused on achieving our carbon and emissions reductions goals and maintaining our leadership in safety and environmental best practices, Lars will bring his tremendous knowledge to build upon the legacy that Bill has established during his tenure,” he said.
“I’m honoured to step into the Chief Maritime Officer role and eager to build on Bill’s remarkable foundation of operational excellence and write the next important chapter,” said Mr Ljoen. “I look forward to applying my experience and skills to an even bigger platform to ensure the company’s continued success.”
