Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced the appointment of five highly qualified members to its Board of Directors effective March 31, 2026: Alex Cruz, former Chairman and CEO of British Airways; Kevin A. Lansberry, former EVP and CFO of Disney Experiences; Steve Pagliuca, former Managing Partner and Co-Chairman of Bain Capital; Brian P. MacDonald, President and CEO of CDK Global; and Jonathan Z. Cohen, Founder, CEO and President of Hepco Capital Management LLC. John W. Chidsey, President and CEO has been appointed Chairman. Alex Cruz has been appointed Lead Independent Director.
Current Board directors Stella David, David M. Abrams, Harry C. Curtis and Mary E. Landry have announced their resignations as Board members. With these changes, which are effective March 31, 2026, the Board will comprise nine members, eight of whom are independent. The Company?s slate at its upcoming 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will consist of directors Zillah Byng-Thorne, Linda P. Jojo and Alex Cruz.
Alex Cruz is a seasoned travel industry executive and transformation leader with three decades of experience driving operational excellence and customer-focused innovation at major global airlines. Mr. Cruz served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of British Airways from 2016 to 2021, leading the airline through significant operational transformation and the COVID-19 recovery. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Vueling S.A. from 2009 to 2016, contributing to its development as a major European low-cost carrier, and Chief Executive Officer of Clickair, S.A. from 2006 to 2009.
He currently serves as a Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company and as a Lecturer at IESE Business School in Spain. Mr. Cruz currently serves on the boards of WestJet Airlines Ltd. as Vice Chairman, Recaro Holding GmbH as Vice Chairman, PortAventura Entertainment, S.A.U., and Fetcherr Ltd. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at Accenture plc as a Partner and at Arthur D. Little Inc. as an Associate Partner, and founded Alnad Ltd., a boutique travel industry advisory firm. Mr. Cruz holds an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from The Ohio State University and a B.S. in Computer Integrated Manufacturing from Central Michigan University.
Kevin A. Lansberry most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Disney Experiences at The Walt Disney Company. With nearly four decades of experience in finance, operations, and global business management, Mr. Lansberry has held numerous senior leadership roles across Disney?s parks, experiences, and consumer products segments. Throughout his tenure at Disney, Mr. Lansberry served in a variety of senior finance roles, including Interim Chief Financial Officer of The Walt Disney Company, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products, and Chief Financial Officer of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and its domestic and international businesses.
He also held leadership roles in revenue management, analytics, and global travel operations. Mr. Lansberry brings deep expertise in financial strategy, large-scale operations, and global consumer businesses. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Ball State University Foundation.
He holds an M.B.A. from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and a B.S. in Finance from Ball State University. Steve Pagliuca is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PagsGroup, a growth capital investment firm focused on biotech, technology, media, and sports. With more than three decades of experience in private equity, investing, and global business leadership, Mr. Pagliuca has played a significant role in building and scaling leading investment platforms and sports organizations.
Mr. Pagliuca is the Principal Owner and Co-Chairman of Atalanta B.C., a Serie A football club, and was previously a Managing Partner and Co-Chair of Bain Capital, where he helped oversee a global investment platform managing significant assets. He also served as a Managing Partner and Co-Owner of the Boston Celtics and founded the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation. In addition to his business leadership, Mr. Pagliuca is active in philanthropy and public policy, including through the Pagliuca Family Foundation, which established the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab to support innovation in life sciences.
He brings deep expertise in investment strategy, governance, and global markets. Mr. Pagliuca holds a B.A. from Duke University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
