Alex McNeil named HX’s first chief expedition officer

McNeil will oversee all aspects of HX's global itinerary and expedition experience. His role will ensure each voyage is designed and curated to offer exploration, education, and leave a positive impact on any communities interacted with. 

The announcement comes as HX continues to expand its offerings, including new sailings to Greenland and the Norwegian Arctic.

Gebhard Rainer, the line’s new CEO, said, ‘The chief expedition officer role is inspired by our exploration heritage, and Alex will leverage his extensive experience and business acumen to maximise the experiences of the next generation of explorers who travel with HX.’

15 years’ experience 

With over 15 years of experience and nearly 200 expeditions, including 14 to the North Pole, McNeil brings strong expertise to the new c-suite role. In his most recent position, he served as SVP of product and guest experience at HX for 18 months and prior to that, as director of expedition experience and innovation at Quark Expeditions. 

Rainer explained, ‘Alex has already been a transformative leader within our organisation since he joined. His vision and dedication to mindful adventure have significantly advanced our product innovation capacity and deepened our community partnerships. As CXO, Alex will continue to lead us into a new era of expedition cruising, ensuring we remain at the forefront of driving sustainable practices that prioritise greener travel.’ 

Honouring a legacy   

McNeil recognised that, ‘At HX, we trace our history back to the golden age of exploration with pioneers like Amundsen, Nansen, and Sverdrup. As we honour their legacy, we continue to innovate and create transformative travel experiences that respect and integrate local cultures and environments, benefiting our guests and host communities.’ 

Reflecting on his journey so far, the CXO said, ‘Having experienced historical sites like Nansen's overwintering site at Cape Norway and the wreck of Amundsen's ship Maud, I deeply understand HX’s pioneering ethos. I am honoured to step into this role and work with our exceptional teams to create next-generation expedition experiences prioritising sustainability, cultural engagement, and scientific discovery.’