Harry Sommer Out at Norwegian as Management Shakeup Continues
by Bruce Parkinson
Harry Sommer (l) and John W. Chidsey (r). Photos: NCLH
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has announced the resignation of CEO Harry Sommer, who will be replaced by former Subway and Burger King CEO John Chidsey.
The departure of Sommer comes less than three years after he was promoted to the NCLH role from Norwegan Cruise Line CEO. It also follows the sudden course shift last year, when David Herrera, who took over from Sommer as NCL CEO, departed unexpectedly in August 2025, replaced by Marc Kazlauskas.
Chidsey is a director on NCLH’s board. He was appointed to the NCLH board of directors in February 2025 and previously served on the board from 2013 to 2022.
He was CEO at Subway Restaurants from 2019 to 2024 following a tenure as CEO at Burger King Holdings. He also previously served as CEO of two divisions at Cendant Corp., when the company owned rental car brands Avis and Budget.
“In my new position, my priority will be to partner with the board and management team to sharpen execution, improve performance and continue providing exceptional vacation experiences while delivering durable, long-term value creation,” Chidsey said in a statement.
Sommer had been with NCL and NCLH for more than 30 years.
One of the largest publicly traded cruise companies, NCLH has been under pressure from financial analysts to cut expenses and raise net yields.
Announcing Chidsey promotion, NCLH noted that he brings “a proven track record of leading large global consumer-facing companies through strategic and operational transformation.”
