GENEVA — Explora Journeys’ CEO, Michael Ungerer, is leaving the company.

After holding the position for nearly five years, Ungerer has decided to leave for personal reasons. He will remain as advisor for the brand through to the end of August 2024. 

Pierfrancesco Vago, Executive Chairman Cruise Division of parent company MSC Group will assume his responsibilities as CEO for the time being.

During his tenure, Ungerer played a key role in establishing the new luxury lifestyle brand, Explora Journeys, and successfully helped launched its first ship, EXPLORA I.

“Creating a new luxury hospitality brand from scratch in today’s world has been a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an incredible journey,” said Ungerer. “It has been a real privilege working with the visionary Pierfrancesco Vago and the entire Aponte family, which I am forever grateful for. Their firm commitment and their long-term generational view as only a family-owned and operated company can, made it all possible.”

Vago added: “It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside Michael as we have brought to life this incredible new brand and built everything from the bottom up. I would like to thank Michael for his efforts and contribution, and we wish him well for the future.”