Richard E. Sasso ~ President and CEO

Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA, has been a popular and well-respected figure in the cruise industry for more than 35 years.

After holding key positions at Costa Cruises and Chandris Cruises, Sasso joined the senior management team that launched Celebrity Cruises in 1990. He served as president of that line from 1995 to 2001 and was instrumental in establishing it as a top premium cruise line.

Sasso was named president and chief executive officer of MSC Cruises USA in April 2004 and has been charged with establishing a strong position for MSC Cruises in the North American market with a cruise experience that truly reflects the heart and soul of Italy.

Backed by one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, MSC Cruises has emerged as a fast-rising star in the European-style cruise market. The company, with three ships in 2002, launched a 4 billion euro expansion program in 2003 and added five ships to its fleet – MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, and new vessels MSC Lirica, MSC Opera and the Panamax MSC Musica and MSC Orchestra (at 90,000 tons, the largest ships in the fleet). Two additional Panamax ships – MSC Poesia and MSC Magnifica – are slated for delivery in 2008 and 2009; two post-Panamax ships, MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida, are under contract for delivery in 2008 and 2009.

In 1999 the National Association of Cruise Only Agencies (NACOA) honored Sasso as “Cruise Industry Executive of the Year” and a leading travel industry trade magazine named him its “Cruise Industry Executive of the Year.” He also served as chairman of both the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

Sasso lives in Delray Beach, Fla., with his wife of 36 years, Carmen.