The next leader of Cruise Lines International Association must be prepared to address the side effects of cruise industry growth.
For the third time in four years, Cruise Lines International Association is looking for a new CEO. The Washington, D.C.-based industry group announced that its current president and CEO, Cindy D’Aoust, was leaving at the end of the year "to focus on family priorities."
Cindy D’Aoust was named CEO in March 2016 after serving as acting head of the association for several months. She will stay in the job until her replacement is chosen and a transition is underway.
"CLIA has been fortunate to have Cindy at the helm for the last two years," said Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold Donald. "But we respect her decision to focus on her family and wish her all the best."
Cindy D’Aoust had been CLIA’s leader since late 2014, when former CEO Christine Duffy left to become president of Carnival Cruise Line.
After a search that lasted several months, the group chose former Coast Guard official Thomas Ostebo. But within about a month of starting in July 2015, he stepped down for unexplained personal reasons.
Cindy D’Aoust, who joined CLIA as executive vice president of membership and operations in December 2014, was named acting CEO.
Earlier this year, Cindy D'Aoust highlighted the need to make clear commitments and forge partnerships devoted to environmental issues and easing overtourism.
"We must all pull in the same direction; we must define a set of industry-wide commitments to environmental and destination sustainability," she said. "By setting high standards and holding ourselves accountable, the cruise industry will play a leading role in capturing the benefits and addressing the challenges of surging global travel."
