“Thank You for Your Trust:” Mokhtar Kerkeni to Leave MSC Cruises

A popular personality at MSC Cruises Canada is charting a new course.

Mokhtar Kerkeni, the cruise line’s business development manager for Western Quebec and Atlantic Canada, will be leaving his role on November 6.

Ian Patterson, country manager at MSC Cruises Canada, shared the update in a letter to travel partners Wednesday (Nov. 4).

“I would like to sincerely thank Mokhtar, who joined MSC Cruises four years ago as a member of our Contact Centre team, for his dedication, professionalism, and significant contribution to growing MSC Cruises’ presence and market share across Canada,” Patterson wrote. “We are grateful for his many accomplishments and wish him every success in his future endeavors.”

As part of the transition, Patterson said MSC is reviewing the alignment of its Canadian commercial team and will communicate new appointments and territory responsibilities shortly.

“In the meantime, please be assured that your business remains extremely important to us,” Patterson wrote, adding that MSC’s Inside Sales Team is available to support day-to-day needs and can be reached at insidesales@msccruises.ca.

“It’s time to turn a new page”

Kerkeni took to his Facebook page late Wednesday to acknowledge his exit.

“After a beautiful adventure, it’s time to turn a new page,” he wrote. “When I joined MSC, I didn’t know everything that awaited me. I arrived with ambition, a lot of motivation, and a desire to learn. I’m particularly proud of the path I’ve taken, the projects I’ve contributed to, the results I’ve achieved, and the opportunities that have been offered to me. But beyond the numbers, goals, and achievements, it’s the people who made this adventure so special.”

Kerkeni went on to thank his colleagues, partners, travel agencies, and “everyone I’ve had the pleasure of meeting across Quebec and the Atlantic.”

“Thank you for your trust, collaboration, beautiful moments, encouragement, laughter, and all the encounters that made every trip and every challenge even more memorable,” he wrote.

“I’m leaving this adventure with a lot of gratitude, beautiful friendships, unforgettable memories, and above all, the pride of having given my best.”

He also apologized to those who “might be disappointed by my departure.”

“Know that this decision wasn’t easy to make, and I’ll always be grateful to the people who were part of this beautiful adventure,” he wrote.

“This isn’t a goodbye, just the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new adventure.”

Kerkeni did not disclose his next career move but indicated that he is “open to new professional opportunities.”