LONDON — HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) has a new CEO at its helm.

Gebhard Rainer is taking over the reins as Chief Executive Officer of the expedition cruise company, effective July 15, 2024. Current Group CEO and CEO for HX, Daniel Skjeldam, will transition to a board member in Hurtigruten Group.

Prior to joining HX, Rainer served as CEO of Sandals Resorts International. He also served as President & Chief Operating Officer at Coach. 

On Rainer’s appointment, Skjeldam said: “The appointment of Rainer is a key component of our strategic plan for the future of HX. With his proven leadership and strategic acumen, knowledge of the U.S. market and successfully running a company with strong ties to the travel trade, Rainer is ideally positioned for this key role in HX’s forward journey.”

Rainer expressed his enthusiasm for joining the HX team and his confidence in the brand’s potential for success. “I’m thrilled to embark on this journey with HX and to contribute to our shared vision for expedition travel that is mindful, responsibly low-impact and considerate of our surroundings,” he said. “The opportunities ahead are truly exciting and I look forward to leveraging HX’s strengths to drive innovation, growth and positive impact in the expedition travel industry.”

Skjeldam has been serving as both Group CEO and HX CEO during the initial stages of the transformation process of HX, as the company advances towards full autonomy with its own Executive Leadership Team and board. According to Skjeldam, the split between Hurtigruten and HX is in its final phase, with two autonomous management teams in place for both brands. 

HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) first announced its new name back in September 2023. New brand identities for HX and sister brand Hurtigruten were then rolled out in December 2023.