RICHESON JOINS CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES AS VICE PRESIDENT, SHIPBOARD HUMAN RESOURCES

Kevin D. Richeson has been named vice president, shipboard human resources by Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines.

Richeson comes to Carnival after a 21-year career with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he rose through the ranks from opening team captain in St. Louis, Mo., to vice president, global human resources operations, responsible for 35,000 employees in 75 hotels, 33 residences and ten destination clubs worldwide.  He begins on March 7, reporting to Ruben Rodriguez, executive vice president of ship operations. 

In this newly created position, Richeson will have overall responsibility for the integration and management of  core human resource functions for shipboard hotel and non-officer deck and engine crew.  He will also develop compensation and career development benchmarking efforts in collaboration with CCL’s sister lines and corporate HR and manage crew-recruiting activities overseas.

“Throughout his career, Kevin has worked with a culturally diverse workforce and has been an instrumental influencer of excellence both within Ritz-Carlton and across the Marriott organization,” said Rodriguez.  “Kevin understands that talent development and retention serve to emphasize superiority in service, which in turn translates to outstanding guest experiences for our customers.”

Richeson holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Carnival is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line®," with 22 “Fun Ships” operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand.

The line currently has two new 130,000-ton ships on order – Carnival Magic, set to debut in Europe May 1, 2011, and Carnival Breeze, scheduled to enter service in spring 2012.

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