HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has appointed Alex McNeil to the newly established role of Chief Expedition Officer (CXO), according to a press release.

In his new role, McNeil will oversee all aspects of HX’s global itinerary and expedition experience.

Previously, McNeil served as Senior Vice President of Product and Guest Experience at HX for 18 months. Before that, he was the Director of Expedition Experience and Innovation at Quark Expeditions.

Gebhard Rainer, the newly appointed CEO of HX said: “The Chief Expedition Officer role is inspired by our exploration heritage, and Alex will leverage his extensive experience and business acumen to maximize the experiences of the next generation of explorers who travel with HX.

 “Alex has already been a transformative leader within our organization since he joined. His vision and dedication to mindful adventure have significantly advanced our product innovation capacity and deepened our community partnerships. As CXO, Alex will continue to lead us into a new era of expedition cruising, ensuring we remain at the forefront of driving sustainable practices that prioritize greener travel.”

McNeil added: “At HX, we trace our history back to the golden age of exploration with pioneers like Amundsen, Nansen, and Sverdrup. As we honor their legacy, we continue to innovate and create transformative travel experiences that respect and integrate local cultures and environments, benefiting our guests and host communities.

“Having experienced historical sites like Nansen’s overwintering site at Cape Norway and the wreck of Amundsen’s ship Maud, I deeply understand HX’s pioneering ethos. I am honored to step into this role and work with our exceptional teams to create next-generation expedition experiences prioritizing sustainability, cultural engagement and scientific discovery.”