Change of course at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises: Isolde Susset takes over the helm from Julian Pfitzner

• Julian Pfitzner leaves Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
• Isolde Susset takes over the management of the five luxury and expedition ships

Julian Pfitzner, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, is leaving the company at his own request. He is handing over the helm of the five luxury and expedition ships to Isolde Susset, who has shaped the expedition segment at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises for more than two decades.

Julian Pfitzner took over the operational management of the leading provider of luxury and expedition cruises in German-speaking countries in December 2020. Previously, he was responsible for strategic and product marketing at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Club and product management for the EUROPA 2 for over ten years. With the development and design of the EUROPA 2, he set standards in modern luxury cruising.

"We would like to thank Julian Pfitzner for his great commitment and wish him all the best for his future endeavours," says Wybcke Meier, CEO TUI Cruises. "At the same time, we look forward to working more closely with Isolde Susset and wish her every success in her new position as Managing Director Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. With the creation of new positions in product management and the reorganisation in the areas of customer service, sales and marketing, we believe that Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is ideally positioned for the future," says Wybcke Meier.

In the coming weeks, Julian Pfitzner will hand over the helm to his long-time colleague Isolde Susset, whose professional career is closely linked to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The dedicated tourism expert has put her heart and soul into shaping the brand's expedition segment for over 20 years and is now gradually taking over responsibility for the two luxury ships EUROPA and EUROPA 2. Isolde Susset, one of the most experienced cruise experts in the industry, began her career at sea and worked for several years in various positions on board. She has been part of the product management team in Hamburg since 1997 and also took over as Head of Tourism in 2013. Further milestones in her career were the launch of the new expedition ships HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit, which she accompanied from the initial idea to the conception and christening.