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Scenic appoints four key staff for Scenic Eclipse debut

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From left, Hans Heger, Sonja Altmann, Frederik Ekelund and Guillermo Muro
In preparation for the maiden voyage of Scenic Eclipse in August, Scenic has filled four key operational positions.

Hans Heger will serve as general manager, operations, Scenic Discovery Yachts, assuming responsibility for all operations relating to the Scenic Eclipse fleet. He will oversee the marine, technical and hotel services provided by partners such as V.Ships Leisure, as well as overall management of the operational teams. He reports to Glen Moroney, Scenic Group founder and chairman.

Guillermo Muro, culinary director, will oversee the menu development across the 10 on-board dining experiences, as well as manage operations for the ship’s extensive culinary department in conjunction with V.Ships Leisure.

Frederik Ekelund, hotel director, will be responsible for managing Scenic Eclipse’s shipboard operations.

And Sonja Altmann, operations manager, will oversee all shore-based guest operations, including shore excursions and supplier relationships.

Moroney said Heger and his team bring 'exceptional luxury ocean cruising experience' which will ensure a 'world-class, six-star luxury cruise experience.'

Heger has more than 20 years of experience in ocean and river cruise operations, including an extensive career at V.Ships in various management capacities. He led the company’s hotel operations, oversaw the development of a new culinary operation and established a training center to support the new culinary activity. At Silversea Cruises he oversaw hotel operations, before returning for a further stint at V. Ships. In 2015, Heger set up a consultancy specializing in cruise ship operations and mega-yacht newbuild projects.

Muro joined Scenic following an extensive career in ocean cruising. Most recently he was corporate chef at Seabourn, responsible for a team of 410 chefs across the fleet, with a focus on the line’s partnership with three-star Michelin chef Thomas Keller.

Ekelund is an experienced hotelier who spent the past 20 years in various management roles across the leisure, travel and tourism industries, including project management positions with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, hotel manager for Hurtigruten, and senior roles at three hotels and a major Scandinavian shopping center.

Altmann previously worked with Scenic as a cruise director on Scenic Space-Ships in France and Europe. She has more than 15 years’ experience in guest relations, crew recruitment and training and destination services across the cruise and hotel sectors.