Hurtigruten Names New Americas President

Hurtigruten this week named John Downey, a former executive from Amazon, to be the expedition cruise line’s new president for the Americas.

Downey, who officially took on the role on Mar. 20, is in charge of sales across the U.S., Canada, and South America, including working with the travel trade channel.

“I’m thrilled to lead Hurtigruten’s growth in the U.S. market segment and look forward to building upon the company’s brand story as we take adventure cruising into the future,” Downey said in a press release.

A Northwestern University graduate, Downey’s most recent position at Amazon was working as the general manager and category leader for Amazon’s advanced shopping technology called Amazon Go. He also helped lead the team that created Amazon’s Meal Kits. Before Amazon, he was part of Motorola’s Mobile division.

“Hurtigruten welcomes John Downey and his extensive, senior-level experience with innovative products and brands. His background is a strategic fit as Hurtigruten builds upon 125 years in the industry and on the heels of the introduction of the world’s first hybrid ships,” Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam said in a statement.