‘Giles Hawke has huge shoes to fill,’ says new Celebrity Cruises chief
Tom ParryGiles Hawke has “huge shoes to fill” at Celebrity Cruises, the line’s new president has told TTG, explaining too why he was the right person to succeed Jo Rzymowska as Celebrity’s EMEA chief.
Hawke will take up his new role on 21 August with Rzymowska set to leave the business this week after nearly 20 years at Royal Caribbean Group during her 40-year travel career.
Speaking on Tuesday (18 July) in her first UK trade interview since Hawke’s appointment was announced, Celebrity president Laura Hodges Bethge said Hawke’s experience and personality had earned him the coveted position.
“Jo’s are huge shoes to fill, but Giles has been in this business for 30 years – he’s a veteran," she told TTG. "He’s super-strategic and he has a great disposition.
“He’s very collaborative and open, and that’s a style I appreciate as that’s also how I like to engage with my team. It’s important for me that someone is open and will listen and really likes a good debate – and Giles likes a good debate, in a very healthy way. I think that’s the way you get the best out of people and the best outcomes.”
Hodges Bethge, who herself took over at the helm of the brand from Lisa Lutoff-Perlo in May, said Hawke’s appointment had been “well supported” by trade partners.
“They know him well and what they can expect from him, which is comforting, and really important for the brand moving forward.”
She said Hawke had been “such a lover of the brand for so long” and had been “really keen” to be considered for Rzymowska’s role after her plans to step down were announced late last year.
“He wasn’t necessarily looking to leave the post he’s currently in [and] when someone has so much passion that’s really important,” she added.
Hodges Bethge said she had joined the search for Rzymowska’s successor “almost at the end of the process” but had ensured the right candidate won the approval of Royal Group’s leadership committee, including that of company president and chief executive Jason Liberty.
She added the “secret sauce” of Royal Caribbean Group was having “people willing to put in the extra effort” and “keep questioning and evolving”.
“I believe Giles is going to work really well in that culture of innovating and pushing ourselves to deliver the best for our guests and everyone we work with commercially.”
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