Orient Express Silenseas assembles leadership team

As earlier reported here, Clément Mousset is chief strategy officer. He also leads institutional relations.

Philippe Hetland Brault

Hetland Brault has spent his entire career in the maritime sector including 35 years with Barry Rogliano Salles as managing partner, then chairman and CEO at Yacht Partners International in Monaco from 2013 to 2016. At the end of 2016, he founded Hetland Maritime SAS, whose core activities include brokerage, consulting and M&A services with clients across the maritime sector.

Since 2021, Hetland Brault has advised Accor Group in the negotiation, implementation and structuring of the Orient Express Silenseas project.

Vianney Vautier

As chief operating officer, Vautier is responsible for managing the Orient Express Silenseas organization. A former naval architect at Chantiers de l'Atlantique, he is one of the inventors of the SolidSail propulsion system. He has developed cruise ships for several major cruise lines. In 2023 Vautier founded WIND, an advisory company in naval architecture and wind propulsion.

Elisabeth Bicais

Bicais spent 20 years working for shipowners Louis Dreyfus Armateur and SeaOwl on newbuilding projects, including overseeing and managing commercial operations and chartering, as well as leading research and development. She began her career with the French registry (Registre international français du pavillon français) and classification society Germanischer Lloyd.

Sacha Rougier

Well-known in the cruise world, Rougier joined from Explora Journeys, where she was head of itinerary planning & destination experiences. Previously, she served as managing director of Cruise Gate Hamburg, operator of three cruise terminals. Before that, Rougier worked for the Port of Marseille, holding positions in marketing and cruise development.

Florian Richard

An officer and captain of luxury cruise ships for 20 years, Richard will develop and oversee all ship management operations for Orient Express Silenseas. He joined after nine years with Ponant, most recently as captain for the company’s newbuild projects. He is a founding partner of Neomare, a Nantes-based agency dedicated to creating personalized and sustainable land-to-sea experiences. Richard also served in officer positions at Windstar Cruises and Silversea Cruises.