Dominic Paul is to become Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’s new vice president and managing director for the UK and Ireland, the company announced today.   Currently Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow’s second biggest airline, bmi, Paul will join the business in September 2010.

Paul’s impressive career in business development and operational growth, spans national and international executive and board level posts within British Airways, Go Fly, easyJet and bmi.

Paul is an economics graduate of London University. He began his career on the British Airways graduate management programme in 1993. He went on to be part of the start-up team that grew and sold Go Fly Ltd to easyJet. Since joining bmi in 2007, he rose to become Managing Director and then Chief Operating Officer.

Michael Bayley, executive vice president, International Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said:

“We are pleased to appoint Dominic Paul to this key position in the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. global leadership team. As a company, we’re very focused on achieving our international business expansion plans. Within these plans, the UK and Irish markets are critical to our international success. Dominic’s track record in leading and shaping international businesses whilst delivering financial results reinforces this commitment.

“We are determined to continue the growth of our Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises brands as they continue to grow in popularity within the UK and Irish markets. Dominic is well equipped to work with the existing team and complements the skills of UK and Ireland associate vice president and general manager, Jo Rzymowska. We’re confident they will be a successful force in the UK and Ireland travel industry,” concluded Bayley.

Reporting directly to Michael Bayley, Dominic Paul will be based in the Weybridge office, the UK and Ireland headquarters of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd, and will lead a team of 300. In addition, the role will see Paul taking on the business management of the year-round UK and Ireland dedicated ship, Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas.

On his appointment, Paul commented: “I am extremely excited to be joining such an innovative and dynamic organization. The cruise sector has enormous growth potential and as a leading player within this market, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is extremely well placed to take advantage of this growth. I am thoroughly looking forward to working with the team to aggressively and profitably grow the UK and Irish business”.