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‘20 under 40’ finalists announced by Seatrade Cruise News in Lisbon

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Some of the 20 under 40 finalists and judges in Lisbon, from left: Michael DeMeo, VP cruise, New York City Economic Development Corp.; Rebecca Keeler, commercial manager, ABP Southampton; Amaury de Williencourt, country manager, France & Monaco, Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services; Barbara Buczek, director of corporate development and operational business, Port of Dover; 20 under 40 judge Craig Milan, VP itinerary planning and destination development, Virgin Voyages; Brian Whelan, staff captain, Star Princess, Princess Cruises; 20 under 40 judge Mary Bond, managing director, publishing and content and editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Seatrade Cruise Review; Neil Palomba, president, Costa Cruises
A global search for cruising’s top '20 under 40s' came to a conclusion today as the winners of the Seatrade Cruise News competition were announced at Seatrade Cruise Med in Lisbon.

They are, in alphabetical order:

   Barbara Buczek, director of corporate development and operational businesses, Port of Dover

   Andrew L. Carricarte, president, CEO, Tritan Software Corp.

   Shiky Chen, director, market planning, Princess Cruises

   Isabelle Côté, manager - guest experience, Destinations North America

   Amaury De Williencourt, country manager France and Monaco, Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services

   Michael DeMeo, VP cruise, New York City Economic Development Corp.

   Marco Fantasia, senior director, regulatory compliance, safety and training, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

   Simon Ho, VP guest experience & on-board revenue, Dream Cruises

   Rebekah Keeler, commercial manager, Associated British Ports, Southampton

   Tim Krug, head of department sales and design, Meyer Werft

   Capt. Ben Lyons, CEO, Expedition Voyage Consultants

   Lauren Miller, general counsel, Carnival Australia

   Valeryi Nagornyi, CEO, Vladivostok Sea Terminal

   Neil Palomba, president, Costa Cruises

   Jess Peterson, director, itinerary and revenue planning, Windstar Cruises

   Denise Saviss, VP, entertainment experience, Princess Cruises

   Ryan Stana, founder and CEO, RWS Entertainment Group

   Jianfeng Tong, director, APAC operations, Royal Caribbean

   Brian Whelan, staff captain, Star Princess, Princess Cruises

   Jason Worth, VP finance & accounting - Asia Pacific, Norwegian Cruise Line

Trophy and presentation by Seatrade's Mary Bond and Virgin Voyages' Craig Milan

The winners were announced during a ceremony at Seatrade Cruise Med, and those attending the event received a trophy and an invitation to the stage for a short interview with two members of the judging panel, Mary Bond, managing director of publishing, Seatrade, and Craig Milan, VP itinerary planning & destination development, Virgin Voyages.

Bond also highlighted those in the audience who made the top 40 before it was whittled down to the 20 finalists.

Global participation of young talent

In its inaugural year, Seatrade Cruise News' '20 under 40' had global participation and attracted nearly 100 entries.

'Both the volume and standard of entries this competition received have been truly outstanding; which made selecting the Top 20 winners a difficult task,' Bond said. 'Each individual who was nominated should be extremely proud of not just themselves but the future they are helping to ensure for cruising. It’s so encouraging to see so much young talent build, maintain and innovate this thriving and exciting industry.'