Sean Bethge steps down as VP newbuild, Four Seasons Yachts

Bethge joined the Four Seasons Yachts development team in early 2020.

'Integral part of our start'

'He has been an integral part of our start,' CEO Larry Pimentel said. 'He has stunning ability in project management and is one of the most organized and structured people I've ever met.

'I will miss him,' Pimentel said, adding he hopes Bethge — who is leaving to become a caregiver in his family — may be able to take on special projects at some future point.

Bethge's wife, Laura Hodges Bethge, EVP shared services operations at Royal Caribbean Group, has just been appointed president of Celebrity Cruises, effective May 1.

Bethge came to Four Seasons Yachts after managing Crystal Cruises' newbuild program. Earlier, over a dozen years at Royal Caribbean Group, he was program manager for the Quantum, Edge, Oasis and Mein Schiff prototypes, which were built at three shipyards. Ultimately he led the newbuild department's program management office.

Jan Sorensen steps up

'His gift to us is bringing in a great staff,' Pimentel said. 'He's leaving us with a quality team in place. Jan Sorensen, who he recruited from the original Crystal Cruises, where he was Sean's boss, will take over.'

Sorensen, who was VP hotel newbuild and refurbishment at Crystal until 2021, is Four Seasons Yachts' on-site newbuild team manager, based at Fincantieri in Trieste.

He now assumes the VP newbuild role.