easyCruise is recruiting a CEO

posted: 17.02.06

easyCruise is successfully introducing cruising to a younger crowd of passenger. With an average age of passenger at 32 years old during its first season in the Mediterranean during summer 05, and an average age of 39 during its current Caribbean winter 05/06 season, easyCruise passengers are more than 20 years younger than the average age published by the cruise industry as a whole. The main reason why easyCruise attracts a younger crowd is that the ship stays in port every night so passengers can choose to go ashore if they wish to enjoy the nightlife. An additional reason is that easyCruise passengers choose where and when to board the easyCruise ship, subject to a stay of two nights minimum or fourteen night maximum. No other cruise line offers this level of independence of choice.

Now that easyCruise is nearing the end of its first year and the end of its pilot phase, the company is gearing up for growth. Stelios the serial entrepreneur will remain as chairman but since there are 15 'easy' branded businesses within the easyGroup, he needs a full time CEO to manage easyCruise. Growth for easyCruise may come in the form of franchising the business to operators of existing cruise ships and possibly riverboats who are willing to invest in converting them to the easyCruise concept. In the longer term, beyond 2008, easyCruise might itself invest in custom designed new buildings which would accommodate about 500 passengers. A comprehensive tender document, which can be viewed in the 'our ships' section of www.easyCruise.com, has been circulated to many shipyards and negotiations are under way. In addition, some key lessons have been learned from the pilot phase of easyCruise and a more upscale dining experience will be introduced, still on a pay as you go 'a la carte' basis which has been praised by passengers for giving them the independence that they like. Other upgrades may include an on-board spa.

easyCruise has received a warm welcome from both US passengers and media. Only this month the Washington Post quoted that, "easyCruise doesn't need Vegas shows on board when its itinerary is the best show on Earth" and in January the New York Times Travel Section named Stelios as Entrepreneur of the Year for his work with easyCruise 'Making the Big Boys take Notice'. Additionally, the TV observational documentary series about easyCruise which was broadcast by Sky TV is also being shown on The Travel Channel in the US this year and a second series of 'Cruiseline' is currently being made. Due to this warm reception, easyCruise is likely to establish a US base with possible cruises out of Miami and the Bahamas, provided that the incentives on offer prove attractive enough. The head office of easyCruise will be in Monaco and in London easyCruise will continue to use the easyGroup office.

easyCruise will continue cruising the Caribbean until 29 April and from 13 May will start offering cruises once again in the playground of the rich and famous, along the French and Italian rivieras. Further announcements confirming expansion plans for easyCruise will be made in the coming weeks.

The ideal candidate:

He or she will have at least 10 years of experience in a successful cruise line, preferably with full P&L responsibility of at least a substantial unit of the business. Experience in marketing and sales will be considered a strong plus. Willingness to think outside the box and work closely with the entrepreneurial founder of the business will be essential. As Stelios has 14 other businesses to oversee within the easyGroup, he envisages his role to gradually be that of non-executive chairman of the board in terms of UK-style corporate governance.

The package:

An attractive salary in line with industry experience will be available for the right candidate. There will be a performance related cash bonus and, subject to certain vesting conditions and co-investment schemes, significant equity upside could be available to the CEO that will help IPO the company in the next 5 years.

To apply:

If you think you are the right person for this position, please email Stelios directly at ceosearch@easyCruise.com by 5th March, 2006 with a brief one page CV (bio) and a brief statement as to why easyCruise.com will be successful in this fiercely competitive industry. Not all emails received can be acknowledged.