Atlas Ocean Voyages has announced a series of strategic new appointments to its sales and guest services team. This development reinforces the brand’s commitment to its trade-first sales strategy and continued growth in the luxury expedition market.
Kristian C. Anderson, executive vice president of global sales, has welcomed Kelly Popovski, Richard Whitaker, Logan Steele, Juan Lopez and Pedro Jaimot to the Atlas Ocean Voyages team. These appointments bring a wealth of industry experience and reflect the brand’s investment in deepening support for its travel advisors.
New appointments include:
- Kelly Popovski, senior director of field sales – Popovski will lead the brand’s team of field sales for North America. A respected cruise industry veteran, Popovski began her career with Norwegian Cruise Line, where she held progressive roles within the sales organization, forging strong relationships with the travel advisor community. As a founding team member at Virgin Voyages, she was instrumental in developing the sales organization and leading charters & incentives.
- Richard Whitaker, director, national accounts – Whitaker brings nearly a decade of cruise sales experience, including roles with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Azamara Cruises. In his new role, he is responsible for increasing the brand’s presence with consortia partners and national accounts by developing customized marketing and sales strategies to support mutual growth.
- Logan Steele, regional sales director, Southeast USA – Steele will support travel partners across the Southeast U.S. With a cruise industry background in sales and sales support, he brings a fresh and innovative perspective to his new role. A graduate of Florida State University, Steele is committed to strengthening advisor relationships.
- Juan Lopez, director of guest services – Lopez leads the brand’s global reservation team of Voyage Specialists, bringing experience in guest reservations and operations from The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. A graduate of Florida International University’s Hospitality & Tourism program, Lopez is focused on enhancing the guest experience from the first point of contact.
- Pedro Jaimot, director of charter & MICE operations – Reporting to Robert Cao, vice president of Charter & MICE, Jaimot brings over 15 years of experience in cruise sales, marketing and operations. His background includes key roles at Star Clippers, Landry & Kling, Cruise Planners and Ponant. At Atlas, he will focus on expanding and refining charter and MICE offerings.
In addition, Isabel Galvan has been appointed vice president, commercial operations & systems development as Atlas Ocean Voyages establishes a new department of operations and systems development to oversee the day-to-day operational functions of the business. This department will ensure that critical systems, including reservations and IT infrastructure, are functioning at optimal levels. Additionally, it will facilitate the research, development and implementation of new technologies to support the evolving needs of the business. Galvan has extensive experience in the cruise industry and a proven track record as a key stakeholder in both marketing and sales, which uniquely positions her to align commercial strategy with operational excellence. Galvan will continue to report to James A. Rodriguez, president and CEO.
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