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Ponant appoints chief operating officer for US

Ponant appoints chief operating officer for US
Ponant appointed former consultant and veteran cruise executive Navin Sawhney as chief operating officer of Ponant USA. Based in New York, he takes charge of spearheading the company's development in North and South America.

The news follows the French line's late 2014 acquisition of some assets of Travel Dynamics International, which are being marketed in North America as Ponant Cultural Cruises and Expeditions.

Sawhney, who has been consulting for Ponant since May, previously provided consulting for Azamara Club Cruises and before that served as svp sales and marketing at Tauck. Earlier in his career he was svp marketing at Cunard, where he integrated several business acquisitions and rebranded Sea Goddess, Royal Viking Line and NAC under the Cunard banner.

Sawhney began his career in strategic planning at Holland America Line.

Ponant is scheduled to launch Le Lyrial in May and has new Alaska expedition cruises this year. There's a new travel agent booking engine, too.

'This is a compelling time for travel agencies to deepen their relationships with Ponant and offer new experiences to their clients,' Sawhney said.

Ponant's North American reservations office continues in Hollywood, Fla.

The Ponant US sales office is located at 132 East 70th Street, New York, 10021, the previous address of Travel Dynamics International.

Terri Haas, who was US chief commercial officer for Ponant, left in May. Since November she has been vp sales at Haimark, a growing operator of luxury river and expedition cruises.