Has Barbara resigned?

[tiggertom]

Just read a post on Facebook suggesting Barbara Muckermann has resigned. Not sure what has happened at Silversea?

[Ravbo]

This appears to be CORRECT.

New Silversea President is Bert Hernanadez.

[Observer]

Here is the press release:

 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bert-hernandez-named-brand-president-of-silversea-302115371.html

[Elizabethbea]

This does not bode well for Silversea. At all. Brilliant woman. 

[Lonedaddy]

and you expect COST CUTTING: "Notably, he was chief operating officer for the Group's former luxury cruise line, Azamara, delivering the line's most profitable year while it was part of the Royal Caribbean family of brands."

[TLCOhio]

WOW!!  Big, surprising news.  How much does the new CEO for Silversea understand and appreciate about "customer service" with and for a luxury brand.  With a customer base of people with high expectations?  

 

Will he stand up to the "bean counters" at Royal Caribbean who want to cut corners, save pennies and not understand a different, more sophisticated audience than for the larger, mass brands?  

 

AND, what is the "rest of the story".  The change was IMMEDIATE!!  Barbara quickly gone in one day.  The new guy from outside Silversea there instantly!   No smooth transition period.  Lots of unknowns and questions.  Fair or unfair??

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio   

[PaulMCO]

@TLCOhio  used to be the brand President of Azamara.... so CS was important before they jettisoned it. 

 

The question -- being in the Industry for such a long time -- generally people do not leave.  When you go to a competitor, you immediately leave -- the question is where will she pop up???

 

My guess Explora Journeys ???

Edited April 12 by PaulMCO

[Silver Spectre]

Well RCL only parachuted someone with bean cutting experience into SS some 3 or 4 weeks ago. Since she has left with immediate effect it sounds like she either got the push or fell out with him or the board pretty fast. IMHO this is just another nail in the coffin for the Silversea that many of us have loved for years and which is dying slowly from a thousand cuts.

[spinnaker2]

This was not an instant thing. Been in the works for awhile, announced today.

 

Very sad to see her go because she was responsive to the pax and had the brand in mind.

 

 

 

[canderson]

23 minutes ago, Silver Spectre said:

Well RCL only parachuted someone with bean cutting experience into SS some 3 or 4 weeks ago.

Who dat?  Is Vanderlaat not still the CFO?  Or are you talking about RC moving Weir in from Celebrity as Hotel VP?

 

 

[Capt.F]

You can expect that Barbara will be moving to a brand that needs love and care.

This has been in the works for a while.

Changes to the Silversea brand as many of us have been fortunate to enjoy was inevitable with Royal Caribbean calling the shots. 
Bottom line, onboard spending to increased revenue is the RCG corporate culture.

To those of us who have enjoyed Silversea for putting guests first always shouldn’t be surprised to be seeing changes. 
We wish Barbara well and fully understand why the difference in corporate culture and its incompatibility to that of the former Silversea team came to this.

 

[spinnaker2]

1 minute ago, Capt.F said:

You can expect that Barbara will be moving to a brand that needs love and care.

This has been in the works for a while.

Changes to the Silversea brand as many of us have been fortunate to enjoy was inevitable with Royal Caribbean calling the shots. 
Bottom line, onboard spending to increased revenue is the RCG corporate culture.

To those of us who have enjoyed Silversea for putting guests first always shouldn’t be surprised to be seeing changes. 
We wish Barbara well and fully understand why the difference in corporate culture and its incompatibility to that of the former Silversea team came to this.

 

Yes all the best to Barbara. 

[Observer]

Barbara posted this message (along with a photo of her successor hugging her) on another site that cannot be named.  🙂🙂

 

Dear Silversea Passengers .. after an amazing eight years with the Brand it is time for me to move to a new adventure! It has been an incredible privilege to serve you all and this amazing Brand reaching now its 30th year milestone! @Bert is an incredible leader who I am sure will steer Silversea to its next peak! Please keep enjoying this amazing product, hopefully will see you on one of our beautiful ships soon and Arrivederci!

 

[Observer]

Here is another interesting post:

 

Manfredi Lefebvre

Congratulations Bert and good work! The best thing that could happen to my creature, Silversea. Best,

Manfredi

[TLCOhio]

1 hour ago, PaulMCO said:

My guess Explora Journeys ???

Great above guess and speculation!!  The "transition" from her husband as CEO to Barbara was fascinating and raising interesting questions.  Now this??  Inquiring minds want to know more as to the "Rest of the Story"!!

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio   

[Archipelago]

Barbara was great ! She helped me with our failed Shadow cruise. She was personable , humorous , and she valued SS guests. She exemplified the very best that was the Silversea brand. I called her "Babs" . Very interested to see where she goes . Thank You for everything Babs !!!!

[Rocchi]

Link to Silversea press release.

 

https://www.silversea.com/about-silversea/press-releases/2024/april/bert-hernandez-brand-president-silversea.html

[Gourmet Gal]

Almost seems like a demotion for Hernandez.

[Texas Tillie]

15 minutes ago, Gourmet Gal said:

Almost seems like a demotion for Hernandez.

 

Doesn't look that way to me. From how I read it, he was promoting Royal Caribbean to the international market and the job title was senior vice president. Could you please explain how you see this as a demotion?

[bohaiboy]

Is there a chance that Crystal is going to grow (they certainly need more ships and itineraries) but are or could be a great line and that BM i moving back under Manfredi?  Or the other ultra-luxury lines, Scenic, Ritz, and upcoming Four Seasons, really need some seasoned guidance from someone deeply embedded in the ultra-luxury trenches.

[Dolcevita Diva]

8 hours ago, Silver Spectre said:

Well RCL only parachuted someone with bean cutting experience into SS some 3 or 4 weeks ago. Since she has left with immediate effect it sounds like she either got the push or fell out with him or the board pretty fast. IMHO this is just another nail in the coffin for the Silversea that many of us have loved for years and which is dying slowly from a thousand cuts.

 

It was reported elsewhere by several passengers that Barbara M and her husband were vacationing aboard the March 23rd Silver Cloud 12-day expedition voyage in Africa, so the leadership change may have been decided some time ago but the announcement held until after her return.   

 

The tidbit of information that @Lonedaddy shared above about Silversea's new brand President, coupled with a new VP of Transformation who used to be in charge on on-board revenue at RCL certainly indicate that a new leadership team that is highly focused on driving revenue and cutting costs is being assembled.  Not unusual following an acquisition; I think we had all just hoped otherwise when their earlier moves post-acquisition were significant investments in new ships plus Barbara's promotion.  

 

From the press release:

Notably, he was chief operating officer for the Group’s former luxury cruise line, Azamara, delivering the line’s most profitable year while it was part of the Royal Caribbean family of brands

Edited April 12 by Dolcevita Diva

[Redking]

6 hours ago, TLCOhio said:

Great above guess and speculation!!  The "transition" from her husband as CEO to Barbara was fascinating and raising interesting questions.  Now this??  Inquiring minds want to know more as to the "Rest of the Story"!!

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio   

Crystal? Isn't Manfedi Executive Chair?

 

[Redking]

1 minute ago, Redking said:

Crystal? Isn't Manfedi Executive Chair?

 

Oops @bohaiboy our posts crossed. Great minds or some such🤔🤣

[Stickman1990]

57 minutes ago, bohaiboy said:

Is there a chance that Crystal is going to grow (they certainly need more ships and itineraries) but are or could be a great line and that BM i moving back under Manfredi?  Or the other ultra-luxury lines, Scenic, Ritz, and upcoming Four Seasons, really need some seasoned guidance from someone deeply embedded in the ultra-luxury trenches.

You could add Explora Journeys to that list of possibilities - and their inaugural CEO just left recently 

[tfred]

In any case, Royal is installing their people own both X and now Silversea. It may not be a function of BM competency, but rather Royal installing their known executives. That said, BM may not have been amenable to what Royal had in the wings 

 

Increasing profit and revenue is not a bad thing - that keeps them in business. Raising prices to equivalent of land prices is a natural - why give it away?  New customers (from land) have no idea of "what it was like" years ago.