AMERICAS. Leading cruise retailer Starboard Cruise Services has made two senior appointments, promoting Perla Fernandez to the role of Chief Financial Officer and naming Mike Hunssinger Turek as Chief Commercial Officer.
Fernandez will lead financial operations and help to drive profitability while Turek will oversee strategic business expansion and partner portfolio growth. Both executives join Starboard’s senior leadership team, and report to Starboard President & CEO Lisa Bauer.
Over the past 20 years, Fernandez has progressed through various finance and accounting roles within Starboard, presiding over general accounting, financial and capital planning, budget management, data analytics, corporate reporting, cruise line contractual negotiations, financial models and agreements. She also led retail teams as a General Manager. In her new role, she is accountable for all financial aspects of the company. Before joining the company, Fernandez was a Senior Auditor at Ernst & Young LLP.
Turek joined Starboard in 2019 as Vice President, Business Performance and Analysis. During this time, he focused on expanding the company’s analytical capabilities, development of reporting, and contract negotiations.
Before joining Starboard, he held numerous roles at Carnival Cruise Line, including Vice President of Carnival Adventures. There he oversaw the harmonisation of tour programmes across the Caribbean and increased net revenue through the introduction of bundles and seasonal pricing.
Earlier in his career, Turek held multiple roles in Revenue Management at Royal Caribbean Group.
Lisa Bauer said: “We are elated to recognise and promote our ‘homegrown talent’. Perla’s vast financial and operations acumen, coupled with her long-standing experience and understanding of our business makes her the ideal Chief Financial Officer for Starboard.
“Mike’s leading-edge analytical capabilities and flair for contract negotiations have been a dynamic force with our restart. I am confident that both will do a tremendous job driving profitable growth and developing our winning cruise line partner portfolio, which in turn reinforces Starboard’s industry-leading position in cruise line retail.”
