MSC Group today confirmed the appointment of Katrina McAlpine as Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand to oversee ultra luxury cruise brand Explora Journeys and contemporary sister brand, MSC Cruises. The position was foreshadowed by LATTE in August after the role was listed online.
McAlpine brings extensive commercial leadership experience to the role, with a strong track record across both luxury and premium cruise brands in Australia and New Zealand, including Cunard and Imagine Cruising where she has driven business growth by developing commercial strategies that deliver measurable results.
Based in the company’s Sydney office, she will report to Antonio Paradiso, Vice President International Sales, MSC Cruises & Explora Journey and MSC Cruises’ Managing Director UK & Ireland and Francesco Iannaccone, Global Head of Commercial Strategy & Sales Operations, Explora Journeys, leading the strategic direction locally for brands.
Paradiso said: “[Katrina] brings with her a wealth of experience and will play a key role in strengthening our brands in Australia and New Zealand. This appointment reinforces our growing presence in the region and showcases our determination to continue delivering on the goals and commitments we’ve established for this important market.”
McAlpine will formally begin her role from 12 January 2026.
Speaking with LATTE at ILTM Cannes last week in France, Anna Nash, President of Explora Journeys, said the ultra-luxury cruise line has explored senior-level executives across a broad range of industries for the position, from hotel to cruise, airline and luxury lifestyle.
Nash noted the incoming MD would work closely with Explora Journeys’ Head of Sales, Nicole Costantin, and the existing MSC Cruises commercial team in the region.
“Australia and New Zealand are vital markets for us, and having the right leadership in place is essential as we move into the next chapter of growth,” Nash said.
“We’ve been very open-minded. For me, it’s more about the soft skills, personality, where they fit with the team, and the brands, and do they have the right attitude.”
“This is a rare and exciting opportunity for Katrina, a seasoned leader, to be able to see the direct results of her work, precisely because we are still a young and fast-evolving brand. We are not a legacy cruise company that has been established for decades; everything for us is new. We are building, testing, refining — and seeing fresh results every day.
Nash added: “I would also like to thank Nicole for her ongoing leadership and dedication to Explora Journeys as she approaches her four-year tenure with us. She has been instrumental in shaping who we are today, and we look forward to her continuing this journey with us.”
Meanwhile, Explora Journeys hosted dozens of its leading global travel agency (and media) partners attending ILTM Cannes to a wonderful supper at La Môme. A handful of Australian frontline sellers attended the Mediterranean-themed dinner, including Roslyn Ranse and Lucy Bellamy of LUXE by itravel, pictured below with Nicole Costantin, Head of Sales, APAC.
