Costa Crociere S.p.A. has announced that Massimo Brancaleoni has been promoted to the position of General Manager of Iberocruceros and Costa Cruises in Spain.

He will be reporting directly to Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A. and will be charged with the task of consolidating and strengthening the position of the Costa and Ibero brands in Spain, by means of the joint development of the two brands operating in the Country.

“With his extensive international experience acquired in Italy, France and Asia, Massimo has the leadership skill required to lead the combined activities of Costa and Ibero as well as to further increase our competitiveness in the rapidly changing Spanish marketplace,” commented Costa Crociere S.p.A. CEO Michael Thamm.

“Spain is the third cruise market in Continental Europe and it’s a core market for Costa – said Massimo Brancaleoni. – I am certain that with our great commitment and hard work we will be able to face successfully the future challenges ahead of us.”

Massimo Brancaleoni, aged 45, born in Genoa, has taken his current role after a long experience in the Italian Company, started in 1997.

In his career, Massimo Brancaleoni was able to develop multiple skills in finance, sales and marketing and strategic management, becoming VP of World Wide Sales Services at the Genoa headquarters in 2009. He also achieved the ambitious objective – a real “first” for the cruise industry –  of launching Costa in Asia, both as a brand and in terms of operations, in his position as Vice President of the newly established Pacific Asia Operations (PAO) division from 2005 to 2009.