Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Royal Caribbean's Bald to retire, will guide new svp in transition

9c7e421b1ac6cc4dda556e3457624265_XL
Gary Bald - key figure in the development of Royal Caribbean's approach to safety, environment and health
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said Gary Bald, svp safety, security, environment, medical/public health and situation management, will transition his duties to top corporate and federal security executive Jennifer Love as he prepares for his retirement in the spring.

Love will start on Monday.

Bald signed on with Royal Caribbean in 2006 after an FBI career, and Love brings long experience from the FBI as well.

Bald had joined the cruise operator as vp global security, a new role. He had held the third senior-most post at the FBI, executive assistant director for the agency's national security branch.

It was a time of intense scrutiny of the cruise industry following the highly publicized July 2005 disappearance of George Smith IV from a Brilliance of the Seas Mediterranean cruise in July 2005. No charges were filed in the 'missing honeymooner' case and a body was never found.

Bald's role at Royal Caribbean quickly expanded beyond security.

'Gary has been a key figure in the development of Royal Caribbean's approach to safety, environment and health, and an important leader who has made significant contributions to the entire cruise industry,' said Adam Goldstein, president and chief operating officer for Royal Caribbean. Goldstein said Bald's leadership has 'enhanced the safety and security of our guests, crew and employees,' adding: 'We are privileged to have had Gary at Royal Caribbean.'

Goldstein also welcomed Love to the team. 'I am confident Jennifer's skills and expertise will build on our momentum and take our company to even greater advances in our preparedness, procedures and systems,' he said.

Love spent nearly 25 years at the FBI, where she gained broad experience and received numerous honors and awards for her leadership in national security and criminal financial law enforcement. Most recently, Love headed the enterprise-wide security programs and process for the Cablevision Systems Corp. and served as the company's chief liaison to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Love said she looks forward to joining Royal Caribbean, a company 'renowned for innovation and continuous improvement,' and that she looks forward to working with the team to 'take Royal Caribbean to the next level.'

Among Love's honors are the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive Service in 2010, and the National Association for Advancement of Colored People, Community Leader Award in 2009.