A&K's Bob Simpson jumps ship to new Silversea expedition role

Reporting to Conrad Combrink, SVP expeditions, destination and itinerary management, Simpson will be responsible for creating and overseeing Silversea's expedition product delivery strategy. He will collaborate closely with regulatory and destination stakeholders to continue developing and delivering innovative experiences globally, unlocked by Silversea's five expedition ships including the new Silver Endeavour.

Expertise in polar regions and other remote destinations

With more than 30 years of hospitality industry experience, Simpson has been involved in expedition cruising since 1998 and has tremendous expertise developing and operating expeditions in the polar regions and other remote destinations.

He most recently served as VP expedition cruising at Abercrombie & Kent, where he oversaw expedition product development and operations for two decades.

'Few in the industry can match Bob's knowledge of the fast-growing expedition cruise industry,' Combrink said. 'It is an incredibly exciting time for Silversea. We recently took ownership of Silver Endeavour, one of the world's most luxurious expedition ships, and we are on a strong growth trajectory.'

'Innovative approach and enthusiasm'

Combrink added that Simpson's 'innovative approach and enthusiasm for delivering unique experiences' will enhance Silversea's offerings, and his 'in-depth understanding of the remote regions and regulatory processes will also further strengthen our commitment to environmental stewardship and close collaborations with the communities we visit, ensuring we positively impact all of our destinations.'

For his part, Simpson looks forward to 'working with some of the best in the industry to offer our guests incredible experiences in some of the most far-flung corners of the earth.'

Former IAATO chair and AECO executive committee member

Simpson formerly chaired the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators and was an executive committee member at the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators. In these capacities, he worked with a wide range of stakeholders and was deeply involved in tourism management, environmental protection, safety and community engagement.