 Effective
today, Ruben Perez has assumed his new position as general manager at Costa
Cruises North America's Hollywood, Fla., office, responsible for day-to-day
management of all operations, reporting directly to Costa Crociere headquarters
in Genoa, Italy.
Scott Knutson was promoted to vice president
 of
sales and marketing, and is responsible for marketing, sales and travel agent
relations, reporting to Perez.
The new management structure comes in the wake of the retirement of Maurice
Zarmati as president and CEO of the North American office. Zarmati has been
retained as a consultant to Costa Cruises for its worldwide sales, marketing and
passenger-traffic initiatives.
Perez has worked for Costa Cruises N.A. for 28 years, starting in the accounting
department while studying for his bachelor's of science degree in professional
administration at Barry University in Miami. He held several managerial
positions in the credit and collection and revenue management departments before
becoming senior vice president of guest services in 2008. As general
manager Perez' responsibilities also include oversight of all sales and
marketing functions.
Knutson is a 26-year veteran of the travel industry, with 23 years in the cruise
industry. He spent two decades in the sales organization at Carnival Cruise
Lines, starting as business development manager and rising to regional vice
president of sales for the central and then southeast regions of the U.S. In
2008 Knutson was named vice president of sales for Costa Cruises N.A. As the new
vice president of sales and marketing, he is responsible for all aspects of
travel agency sales and distribution, including field sales, strategic
alliances, sales operations, tour operators and incentive and inside sales. |
|
 |
|
Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc.
150 S. University Dr. Ste E,
Plantation, FL 33324 - USA
Tel: +1 954 452 8800 Fax: +1 954
252 3945
EMail:
sales@cruiseco.com |
