NEW CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER JOINS MSC CRUISES’ GLOBAL MANAGEMENT TEAM

Mr Mio has worked in international shipping law for 20 years, covering claims and disputes handling, insurance and liability issues, corporate legal affairs and various other maritime matters. He will report to Chief Executive Officer, Gianni Onorato.

CEO Gianni Onorato said: “Having grown by 800% in the first 10 years alone, MSC Cruises is poised for a further dramatic expansion through a €5 billion plan to double our current fleet capacity by 2022, which includes seven ultra-modern ships in two pioneering prototypes.

“Massimiliano’s specialised expertise in maritime and shipping law will be a valuable addition to the growing portfolio of skills and knowledge embodied by our further strengthened senior executive team. With the right people at the top we can forge ahead with confidence as the Company evolves and continues to provide distinct, unforgettable cruises experiences around the world.”

Mr Mio served most recently as General Counsel for RINA S.p.A, the global provider of certification, testing, inspection and engineering consulting services in multiple sectors, including marine, transport and the environment. While there, Mr Mio led legal teams through numerous complex lawsuits, and piloted a project to restructure RINA’s insurance programme.

Massimiliano Mio is the fourth new C-level appointment by MSC Cruises in 2015, following the arrivals of a new Chief Communications Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer.

In other news, MSC Cruises announced this month that the first of its new Vista generation ships will be named MSC Meraviglia during the steel-cutting ceremony, at STX France’s Saint-Nazaire shipyard.

Complementing that, the Company revealed that its new ultramodern “Seaside” class ship will sail year-round from Miami to the Caribbean.