carnival_cruise.jpgMIAMI – Arnold W. Donald, a highly experienced and respected business leader who has served on the board Carnival Corporation for the past 12 years has been named chief executive officer effective this Wednesday. 
The appointment came as the Miami-based company, which operates the world’s largest cruise line, split the roles of chairman and CEO. Micky Arison, son of the company’s founder Ted Arison, remains head of the board.

“I have been discussing this with the board for some time now and feel the timing is right to align our company with corporate governance best practices and turn over the reins after 34 years as CEO,” Arison said in a statement announcing the change. 
Arison described Donald as “an exceptional professional with extensive experience in organizational leadership who will bring a fresh perspective to the company.”
 “I have come to value and rely on his judgment and insight during the 12 years he has served on the company’s board and I am very confident in his ability to move the organization forward,” Arison said.
Donald will lead the executive team, initially focusing on the company’s long-term strategic goals while working directly with the operating brand executives, the announcement said.
Donald has served in several leadership roles in major companies, including a large publicly traded company, private equity firms, government and large not-for-profits as well as serving on boards of directors of companies across many business sectors. 

He founded and led Merisant, a company whose products include tabletop sweetener brands Equal and Canderel. He also held several senior management roles at the food giant Monsanto for more than 20 years, including serving as president of its consumer and nutrition sector and president of its agricultural sector.

Donald is a former president/CEO of the Executive Leadership Council, a professional network and leadership forum for African-American executives of Fortune 500 companies.
Carnival Corporation has grown from three ships generating $44 million in revenues and carrying about 160,000 passengers a year to more than 100 ships, carrying 10 million passengers a year and generating more than $15 billion in annual revenues, with 90,000 employees.
The company operates cruise lines in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, comprising Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, P&O Cruises in Australia and P&O Cruises in the United Kingdom.