Virgin Voyages brings in former Virgin America leader Peter Hunt as CFO

He follows Erin Williams, who returned to The World Residences at Sea after a stint at Virgin from March to October which included the $550m capital raise led by Ares Management.

Before Williams, Alain Ferzli had served as acting CFO of the line until November 2022. Just this week he joined Azamara as CFO.

Virgin acumen

Hunt brings significant financial and operational experience, in addition to a strong Virgin acumen with prior leadership roles at Virgin America.  

He will be working with Nirmal Saverimuttu, who was elevated from the role of president to CEO in September. 

His appointment comes as Virgin Voyages expands itineraries and gears up for an anticipated record-breaking 2024 wave season. 

Responsibilities 

‘I'm thrilled to welcome Peter to the crew and the leadership team as our new CFO,’ said Saverimuttu. ‘We are excited about the impact he will have given his background and experience with Virgin and in other growth based companies. 

‘I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to deliver on our future plans and achieve our growth and profitability ambitions.’ 

Hunt said ‘It’s wonderful to be a part of the Virgin family again.’ He explained, ‘This brand is truly revolutionising the industry with its award-winning cruise experiences, and I look forward to helping the company grow and build on its initial success.’ 

Background in aviation 

Hunt is an executive leader and financial expert with more than 30 years’ diverse experience, including more than 20 years within the US airline industry. He has been a CFO at two US airlines, most recently at Virgin America prior to its acquisition by Alaska Airlines. Hunt also led the integration of Virgin America with Alaska Airlines, serving as Virgin America’s president and COO throughout the integration.

Most recently, Hunt has served as an advisor to airline investors on potential opportunities and strategies, particularly during the pandemic. He was also interim CFO at Service King, a major chain of auto body repair shops, during Service King’s recent financial restructuring.