MSC Group said that industry veteran Michael Ungerer has joined its cruises business as CEO of MSC’s new luxury brand. He will join MSC with over 30 years of senior management experience in cruising as well as in luxury hospitality.
Ungerer will be based out of the company’s global headquarters in Geneva and will report to Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s cruises business and broader passenger division. Ungerer, 53, is an Austrian citizen and holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD where he also graduated from the Independent Director Programme (IDP).
Vago commented in a statement: “I am particularly pleased to make this announcement as it marks a key step forward in the set-up of the organizational structure that will lead the development of our new luxury brand. For us, this was a natural progression of the work done across our contemporary brand MSC Cruises since its inception, including with the development of our highly-successful premium ship-within-the-ship concept MSC Yacht Club.
Earlier this year, MSC confirmed an order for four luxury cruise ships to be built by Fincantieri for a total value exceeding €2 billion. The vessels will have gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 and will feature the latest and most advanced environmental and maritime technologies available. Additionally, these super-yachts – which will introduce to the luxury segment a broad range of new guest experiences and other activities as well as feature generous ratios of public spaces - will also showcase a highly-innovative design.
The first of the four vessels will be delivered by Spring 2023. The remaining three will come into service one per year over the following three years through 2026.
