NCLH names John W. Chidsey its new president and CEO

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) today announced that its board has appointed John W. Chidsey as president and CEO, effective immediately. He succeeds Harry Sommer, who is stepping down as president and chief executive officer and as a director of NCLH.

Chidsey, who was appointed to the NCLH board in February 2025 previously served on the board from 2013 to 2022. He served as CEO of Subway Restaurants for five years, leading the company until late 2024 and prior to that was CEO of Burger King Holdings, Inc., following his tenure as the company’s president and CFO.

Today, NCLH noted that Chidsey has a proven track record of leading large global consumer-facing companies through strategic and operational transformation.

“During his tenure on the board of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, John has been a highly respected leader and strategic voice. He is the right person to lead the Company through its next phase of execution and performance improvement,” said Stella David, chairperson of the NCLH board. “John has demonstrated his ability to lead businesses through meaningful transformation with a focus on operational rigor and accountability. We are excited for John to assume the role of president and chief executive officer and are confident his leadership will enhance execution, strengthen financial performance, reduce leverage and drive long-term shareholder value. On behalf of the board, I thank Harry for his many years of dedication and service to the company.”

“I am honored to take on the role of president and chief executive officer at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings,” said Chidsey. “I look forward to building upon the solid foundation already in place, laid out by the company’s award-winning brands, dedicated team and crew members, and loyal guests. In my new position, my priority will be to partner with the board and management team to sharpen execution, improve performance, and continue providing exceptional vacation experiences while delivering durable, long-term value creation.”

With a combined fleet of 34 ships and more than 71,000 berths,NCLH operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises cruise brands. It expects to add 14 additional ships across its three brands through 2036, which will add over 39,200 berths to its fleet.

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