Celebrity Cruises has chosen Katina Athanasiou to replace Dondrea Ritzenthaler, who announced her retirement last month. Athanasiou will move into the role of sr. v.p., sales and services for the Americas. The promotion is effective immediately.
Athanasiou Joined Celebrity Cruises Last December
She will report directly to Laura Hodges Bethge, the new president for Celebrity Cruises. Athanasiou joined Celebrity last December as v.p., sales for the Americas, bringing two decades of industry sales experience to the brand. Prior to that, she served as sr. v.p., sales at Silversea Cruises and chief sales officer for Norwegian Cruise Line.Athanasiou is a graduate of Florida State University, with a degree in business communications, and is a member of CHIEF, a private network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders.
In a note to travel advisors, Bethge wrote: “Katina has quickly proven herself to be a great sales leader bringing a passion for our guests, excellent relationships with our trade partners, and deep industry insights to drive our trade business. Her energy and expertise will be a great asset to us as our fleet grows and our brand evolves.”
