Leadership on safety, economy and the environment leaves a ‘strong and positive legacy’ – Christine Duffy
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| Left to right: Mr Vago, Ms Duffy and Mr Lefebvre d'Ovidio |
He will be succeeded by CLIA Europe Vice-Chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises. Lefebvre d’Ovidio served as Chairman of CLIA Europe for three and a half years, which included an extension at the request of CLIA Europe members. He will remain a member of CLIA’s Global Executive Committee.
Christine Duffy, President & CEO of CLIA said:
“I wish to acknowledge Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio for his exceptional leadership in Europe, and extend to him my gratitude on behalf of all CLIA members, particularly for agreeing to serve for an extended period. His close working relationships with regulators and fellow industry colleagues, in particular with his successor, CLIA Europe Vice-Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, will ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
Robert Ashdown, CLIA Europe Secretary General, also paid tribute to Mr. Lefebvre’s efforts:
“Chairman Lefebvre d’Ovidio helped the cruise industry navigate many critical areas during a challenging time. He helped to create the conditions for the industry’s continued record growth in Europe, and he was instrumental in the efforts to establish a global structure for CLIA that unified the industry under one voice throughout Europe and the world. This included the smooth and rapid transformation of the various European cruise industry associations into CLIA Europe, which continues its strong history of effectiveness in representing the interests of the cruise industry.”
Duffy remarked that CLIA Europe is positioned for continued success under Pierfranceso Vago:
“I am delighted that CLIA Europe Vice Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago, a member of CLIA’s Global Executive Committee, will succeed Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio starting on 1st January next year. In his role as Chairman of MSC Cruises Pierfrancesco Vago has already made a tremendous contribution to the growth of the cruise industry in Europe.
Robert Ashdown continued
‘As Vice-Chairman of CLIA Europe Pierfrancesco Vago has played a key role in the successful transformation of the association and has earned the respect of fellow industry colleagues and regulators alike. I look forward to working with him as the industry continues its strong growth in Europe.”
Manfredi Lefebvre thanked Christine Duffy for her leadership and welcomed his successor Pierfrancesco Vago. He also thanked fellow industry colleagues for their support, the teams in each of the CLIA Associations across Europe and outlined his confidence in the future of the industry.
“The cruise industry continues to make a strong economic contribution to the European economy and has shown robust growth in the past decade, even in the face of economic downturns. I’m confident this success will continue and I am also confident CLIA Europe will continue to thrive under the leadership of my successor, Pierfrancesco Vago,” Lefebvre d’Ovidio said.
Chairman elect, Pierfrancesco Vago, commended Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio on his record:
“It is an honour for me to take on the role as Chairman of CLIA Europe. Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio has been an extraordinary Chairman and will be a hard act to follow,” Mr. Vago said. He has left a strong and positive legacy which I aim to build on. In particular he has built strong relationships with governments and regulators, most notably the European Commission and European Parliament, contributing significantly to the development of the positive and credible reputation the industry enjoys today.
“Under his leadership we have built an industry that we should all be proud of. Together we employ over 325,000 Europeans, we serve more than 6 million Europeans on our cruise ships, and we generate almost €38 Billion in output for Europe’s economy.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
1. Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio is Chairman of Silversea Cruises, part of the Lefebvre family investment portfolio, and is one of the most experienced cruise executives in the world. He is also Member of the World Economic Forum, Vice-Chairman of the World Travel & tourism Council. In 2007 he was appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre de Saint Charles and Grimaldi, a title received by His Serene Highness Albert II, Prince of Monaco.
2. Pierfrancesco Vago is Executive Chairman of MSC Cruises and served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2004 until September 2013, overseeing the company’s unprecedented growth from its Geneva-based headquarters. He is leading the company’s expansion alongside MSC Cruises CEO Gianni Onorato, while overseeing all subsidiaries of the MSC group with a strategic relevance to the tourism sector. He started his career in the MSC group by leading the joint venture between the Italian Ferry company SNAV and Hoverspeed Seacontainer Group, the leader in fast connections on the Adriatic Sea. In 2001 Vago was promoted to the position of MSC Cargo Line Manager for the USA, Mexico and Canada, and in 2004, considering the growing importance of the company’s cruise line division, he was appointed CEO of MSC Cruises. In September 2013 he was appointed Executive Chairman. Italian born, Vago began his career in the family business Franco Vago SpA, one of the leading Italian transport companies with affiliates on every continent.
3. CLIA
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world's largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA represents the interests of cruise lines, travel agents, port authorities and destinations, and various industry business partners before regulatory and legislative policy makers. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise holiday vacations with thousands of travel agency and travel agent members. CLIA's Associate Member and Executive Partner programs include the industry's leading providers of supplies and services that help cruise lines provide a safe, environmentally-friendly and enjoyable holiday vacation experience for millions of passengers every year. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org. CLIA can also be followed on the Cruise Lines International Association's Facebook and Twitter fan pages, and CEO Christine Duffy can be followed @CLIACEO and cruising.org/ceoblog.
4. Economic Statistics
• Economic contribution: Europe’s cruising industry generated €37.9bn in total output and €15.5bn in direct spending by the cruise lines, their passengers and crew.
• Jobs: The number of fulltime-equivalent jobs generated by the cruise sector in Europe is now well over 325,000 (direct and indirect).
• Shipyards: The overwhelming majority of the world’s cruise ships are built in Europe. This year alone our European shipyards are working on 20 new ocean-going cruise ships scheduled for delivery in 2016 and worth over €10 billion. In 2013-14, European shipyards are scheduled to deliver 51 new river cruise ships.
• Cruise holidaymakers: The number of Europeans choosing a cruise holiday has more than doubled in the past decade to over 6 million. The number of total cruise passengers that have embarked in Europe has also strongly increased – in 2012, 5.70 million people took a cruise holiday in Europe. Almost a million come from outside of the EU.
Source: CLIA
