Cruise Saudi appoints Lars Clasen as CEO

He brings more than 30 years of international experience. He was managing director at The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, co-founder and MD of Dolce Cruise Management and CEO of A-ROSA River Cruises, president of AIDA Cruises. He also founded Lars Clasen Cruise Consulting. 

Fawaz Farooqui, managing director of Cruise Saudi, welcomed Clasen.

Tremendous progress

'As a cruise professional and enthusiast, I’ve been following the tremendous progress Cruise Saudi has made in such a short span of time,' Clasen said, 'from setting up an entirely new industry and welcoming guests on cruise ships for the first time in Saudi Arabia, to garnering a great deal of attention globally as the newest player in the cruise industry.

'I am honored to be joining a diligent team of professionals and look forward to achieving more milestones together as Cruise Saudi embarks upon a new phase of development in opening not just one gateway, but several new gateways connecting the world to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.'

Clasen's appointment follows that of Norbert Stiekema to chief sales and marketing officer for Cruise Saudi in December.