MSC Cruises USA President Richard E. Sasso announced today the appointment of Hans Hesselberg as senior vice president of Hotel Operations.

In this role, Hesselberg will be responsible for overall vessel operation including product delivery and shipboard services on MSC Cruises ships operating in the Caribbean. Sasso noted that this is a particularly strategic hire citing Hesselberg’s role to ensure that the signature service and onboard experiences of MSC Divina, the line’s first ship dedicated to the North American market, continue to evolve to meet the needs of the market as the ship prepares for her first season in the Mediterranean in spring 2015.

“Hans Hesselberg’s distinguished career of more than 40 years in the industry makes him uniquely qualified to contribute to our continued commitment to deliver a product that appeals to the North American market,” said Sasso.

Before joining MSC Cruises, Hesselberg served in a number of senior-level operations roles, most recently as the head of Hotel Operations for Costa Cruise Lines based in the Genoa, Italy, head office.  Prior to that, he was vice president, Operations for the Americas for Costa.  He joined Costa from American Hawaii Cruises where he served as vice president of Hotel Operations.

Hesselberg and his wife, Mary, are residents of Miami.