NCL Holdings appoints new President and CEO

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has appointed experienced executive John W. Chidsey as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Chidsey, who joined the company’s Board of Directors in February 2025 and previously served from 2013 to 2022, succeeds Harry Sommer, who has stepped down from his role as President, CEO and Director after leading the company since 2023.

 

NCLH – parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises – said Chidsey brings extensive experience in global consumer-facing and franchise-based businesses, having previously served as CEO of Subway Restaurants, where he led a multi-year transformation to modernise operations and reposition the brand for long-term growth.

 

He also served as CEO of Burger King Holdings, following earlier roles as President and CFO, where he helped drive operational discipline and guide the company through significant change.

 

Earlier in his career, Chidsey held senior leadership positions at Cendant Corporation, serving as Chairman and CEO of its Vehicle Services and Financial Services divisions. In these roles, he oversaw brands including Avis Rent A Car, Budget Rent A Car Systems, PHH, and Wright Express, while leading performance improvement across diversified portfolios. 

 

He began his career in financial roles at PepsiCo and holds an MBA in Finance and Accounting.

 

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Chairperson of the NCLH Board, Stella David, described Chidsey as a “highly respected leader and strategic voice” with a proven ability to lead large organisations through “meaningful transformation with a focus on operational rigour and accountability”, adding that he is the “right person to lead the company through its next phase of execution and performance improvement.”

 

Chidsey added: “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.”

 

The leadership transition comes as NCLH continues to report record performance. The company recently announced its best-ever third-quarter revenue, reaching US$2.9 billion – a 5% increase year on year – driven by “higher capacity days and strong demand.” NCLH expects its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results to align with previously issued guidance. 

 

To partner with NCL, email Rebecca Ransom, Business Development Manager Middle East, rransom@ncl.com, call/WhatsApp: +44 7961 300 729; for more information, visit www.ncl.com 

 

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