Saga has announced the appointment of Euan Suterhland as Group CEO effective Jan. 6, 2020, succeeding Lance Batchelor who is retiring.

Sutherland has substantial experience having led major consumer-facing businesses, including financial services, through periods of change, both in the UK and internationally. Most recently he was the CEO of Superdry, a global digital brand, for five years.

Prior to that he was CEO of The Co-op Group, a mutual retailer, insurance and funeral services business where he led a significant transformation program said to have resulted in a more efficient and profitable business. Before that, he was Group COO & CEO UK at Kingfisher, and also has a background in global FMCG brands having worked at Mars and Coca-Cola earlier in his career. He is a non-executive director of Britvic, a soft drink company.

Patrick O’Sullivan, Saga Chairman, said in a prepared statement: “I am very pleased that Euan is joining Saga at this important time in the development of the business. He has substantial experience across several consumer-facing businesses that will be invaluable as we continue the Saga transformation, with our customers at the heart of our strategy.

“Alongside the recent appointments of Cheryl Agius as CEO of Insurance and Gilles Normand as COO, the board has every confidence in the team now in place to lead and accelerate Saga’s turnaround strategy.”

British-based Saga specializes in offering insurance and travel products to consumers aged 50 and over.

Having previously operated second-hand tonnage, Saga introduced its first new ship, the 55,900-ton, 1,000-passenger Spirit of Discovery, earlier this year, and has a second newbuild, the Spirit of Adventure, under construction at Meyer Werft in Papenburg for delivery next year.

The 1981-built Saga Pearl left the fleet this year and the 1981-built Saga Sapphire leaves next year.