MSC Cruises announced today new key management appointments to “support the next phase of the company’s growth across North America” ahead of the arrival of the MSC Seaside in Miami in 2017.

Effective immediately, long-time senior MSC Cruises executive, Roberto Fusaro, has been appointed President of North America. Over the past eleven years, Fusaro led MSC Cruises’ business in South America to become the leading cruise line across the region. Fusaro holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, and is an industry veteran, having previously worked for other cruise brands, including in Miami, prior to joining MSC Cruises in 2005.

Rick Sasso, after leading the MSC Cruises North America team for more than 12 years and successfully positioning the company for growth in the market will assume, also with immediate effect, the role of Chairman of MSC North America.

“This is an exciting time for MSC Cruises as we are in the midst of the second phase of our Company’s growth, which includes an industry-unprecedented eleven new next-generation smart cruise ships entering into service between June 2017 and 2026, for a total investment of $10.2 billion,” said Gianni Onorato, Chief Executive Officer of MSC Cruises. “As we grow globally, North America is naturally more and more a strategic market for MSC Cruises. For this reason, we are thrilled to have Roberto take the leadership of MSC Cruises’ business in the region and work hand-in-hand with Rick to further our ability to capture the significant additional opportunities for growth that this market presents.”

“With the ultra-modern and beautiful MSC Divina home-porting in Miami, the revolutionary MSC Seaside to be christened in Miami in December 2017 and to also home-port there, as well as the development of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve – the most exciting new private destination ever built by a cruise line, – it is clear that MSC Cruises is committed to the North American market,” said Fusaro, President of MSC Cruises North America. “I am honored to have the opportunity to take on this new challenge and excited to work with Rick and the rest of the North American team as we look to further grow our business in the region and deliver a unique vacation experience to guests on board one of the most modern and elegant fleets at sea.” 

“I’m pleased to welcome Roberto to the team and am looking forward to working closely with him going forward as we enter the next stage of MSC Cruises’ growth in the North American market,” said Sasso, Chairman of MSC Cruises North America. “I know what’s to come in the future will be even more impressive than anything we’ve seen yet.” 

As Fusaro takes on his new role in North America, simultaneously, Adrian Ursilli and Javier Massignani will become, respectively, Managing Director for Brazil and Argentina. In their new positions, Ursilli and Massignani, who were previously Commercial Directors for the same two markets, will look to further consolidate the leadership position that MSC Cruises has gained in South America over the years.