Bonner returns to lead Celebrity APAC

FORMER Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand Susan Bonner has been appointed to a newly created single-brand regional role which will see her head up Celebrity Cruises in Asia-Pacific.

The move will see her once again with an ongoing Sydneybased job, after she abruptly departed late last year to undertake a special “new strategic project” in Celebrity’s Miami HQ (CW 08 Oct 2019).

Bonner, who had held the former tri-brand role for about 15 months, was replaced by Gavin Smith, who returned to Australia to take up the local leadership of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara after previously serving in the same position from 2008 to 2013.

Then in Nov the cruise giant announced the creation of a new trade sales structure with the creation of dedicated single brand teams “to better support trade partners and take advantage of opportunities within the region’s growing cruise sector”.

At that time Bonner returned to Australia to “oversee the search for a Managing Director for Celebrity Cruises in Australia and New Zealand”.

However, as it has transpired she is taking up the role herself, as one of three newly appointed Celebrity Cruises Vice Presidents across the globe who all report to the brand’s President & CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo.

Australia and APAC have been “realigned” under the new structure, with Bonner to be supported by Singapore-based Apple Woo, who has been promoted to Director of Asia.

Jo Rzymowska, current VP and MD of Celebrity Cruises UK & Ireland and Australia, will head up a newly defined Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region for Celebrity, while Dondra Ritzenthaler, SVP Celebrity Sales, will lead The Americas for the brand, comprising the US, Canada, Mexico & South America.

Bonner is pictured accepting the 2018 National Travel Industry Award for Best Cruise Line from Travellers Choice MD Christian Hunter.