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Ellen Bettridge assumes Uniworld presidency

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Ellen Bettridge joins from Azamara Club Cruises, where she's spent the past two years
Azamara Club Cruises' Ellen Bettridge is joining Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection as president and ceo, based in the company's greater Los Angeles area office. She succeeds Guy Young, who is being promoted and will take on two new roles at The Travel Corp., Uniworld's parent company.

Bettridge has been vp sales and marketing at Azamara for the past two years. Before that, she had a short stint in 2014 as president of Unique Vacations, the Miami-based Americas representative of Sandals Resorts International. That followed nearly two years at Silversea Cruises in Fort Lauderdale where Bettridge was president, the Americas. This followed her nearly 22 years at American Express, ultimately as vp retail travel.

'I have known and admired Ellen for many years,' said Brett Tollman, chief executive, The Travel Corp. 'She is a superbly capable and talented travel industry professional, with an exceptional reputation and a winning track record. I am confident that Ellen will make a consequential and instrumental contribution to Uniworld’s performance and success, and the team and I very much look forward to working closely with her.'

Bettridge will be responsible for managing and overseeing Uniworld’s global business, including operations and financial performance, product development, guest experience, service enrichment and on-board/on-shore programming. She's also tasked with growing and expanding Uniworld’s business and furthering its innovation.

For her part, Bettridge looks forward to creating 'innovative experiences, programs and services that appeal to the most discerning and inspired travelers throughout the world.'

An Azamara spokeswoman had no immediate word about a successor to Bettridge.

Young, who will continue to be based in Uniworld's Encino, California, office, will take on the newly created roles of global brand engagement officer at The Travel Corp., reporting to Tollman, and president of Costsaver, Trafalgar's fast-growing value brand, reporting to Gavin Tollman, ceo of Trafalgar.

Brett Tollman credited Young with leading Uniworld to 'new heights and exceptional accolades during his tenure of nearly a decade.'