Air NZ’s Kathryn Robertson joins Carnival Australia as new COO

President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald announced the appointment of Kathryn Robertson as chief commercial officer at Carnival Australia.

Robertson joins Carnival Australia from Air New Zealand where she was group general manager of sales with wide leadership responsibilities for enhancing revenue, profit, operating efficiency and achieving growth targets through all channels.

Her chief commercial officer role is a new position in Carnival Australia’s executive structure reflecting the organisation’s ambitious goals to rebuild and grow the business following the restart of cruising in Australia and New Zealand after a pause in operations of more than two years.

“Kathryn is joining Carnival Australia with its eight distinctive cruise brands at a very exciting time as we contribute to the rebuilding of Australia’s $5 billion a year cruise industry on the way to restoring Australia as the world’s most successful cruise market in terms of its market penetration,” Fitzgerald said.

“Kathryn’s career background and many achievements are ideally suited to leading the commercial success of Australia’s main cruising organisation.”

Robertson’s role at Carnival Australia will include responsibility for the commercial strategy through the development of activities relating to marketing, direct and indirect sales and digital capability with the intent to drive business performance, growth and market share.

“I am delighted to be joining Carnival Australia at such a pivotal time, where travel demand is accelerating and the cruise industry is rebuilding to pre-pandemic levels,” Robertson said.

“I am excited to see this region reach its full potential working with our trade partnerships amid renewed optimism and confidence after what we have experienced.”

Robertson will take up her new role at Carnival Australia in November.