Founder and CEO Sven-Olof Lindblad to Become Co-Chair of
Board and Interim CFO Dyson
Dryden to Retain Board Director Position
NEW
YORK, Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lindblad
Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIND; the "Company" or
"Lindblad Expeditions"), a global leader of expedition cruises and
adventure travel experiences, today announced two key executive
appointments: Natalya Leahy will
join as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Jan. 1, 2025, and Rick
Goldberg has been appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO),
effective Dec. 31, 2024.
"As Lindblad Expeditions moves into its 46th year, I am
delighted and confident that the leadership of Natalya Leahy as CEO and Rick Goldberg as CFO will represent an
energized, talented and experienced partnership, leading the
Company into our next phase of growth in the experiential travel
space both at sea and on land," said Sven-Olof Lindblad, Founder and current CEO of
Lindblad Expeditions and a member of the Board. "I look very much
forward to, along with my fellow Board members, supporting Natalya
and Rick to maintain and strengthen our position as the leaders in
this rapidly growing sector of the travel industry and creating
meaningful value for all of our stakeholders."
Ms. Leahy most recently served as President of Seabourn, where
she was responsible for all aspects of the luxury cruise line's
business and operations, leading a global team of more than 4,000
shoreside and seagoing employees. Prior to taking on the role of
President, Ms. Leahy spent several years serving in various
leadership positions at Holland America Group, including Chief
Operations Officer (COO) and CFO, respectively. Throughout her
career, Ms. Leahy served in various leadership roles for global
organizations, such as The Procter & Gamble
Company, United Nations, and The Coca-Cola Company.
Mr. Goldberg currently serves as CFO of Founders Table
Restaurant Group, where he has led all aspects of the high-growth,
fast-casual restaurant company's finance, real estate and
development, franchising, and customer insights, since 2021.
Previously, Mr. Goldberg also held various leadership positions,
including CFO, at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc., one of the
largest providers of assisted tax preparation services in
the United States.
"We are excited to welcome two exceptional leaders whose
experience, drive, skill sets, and values perfectly align with our
vision and mission," said Mark D.
Ein, current Chairman of the Board. "Natalya's extensive
background in senior leadership across global travel and iconic
brand-focused companies, combined with Rick's broad experience as a
senior finance leader, will bring invaluable perspectives to our
team. Their proven success and dedication to excellence will be
instrumental in driving operational and financial performance,
achieving our ambitious growth objectives, and delivering lasting
value to our stakeholders."
"I'm excited and humbled by the opportunity to lead such a
purpose-driven organization like Lindblad Expeditions, the pioneer
of modern expedition cruising and the undisputed expert in
adventure travel," said Ms. Leahy. "Nearly 50 years ago, Lindblad
Expeditions created the expedition travel category, serving as a
beacon of authentic, immersive, and responsible exploration. I
wholeheartedly believe in the transformative power of travel, and
Lindblad Expeditions is uniquely creating life-changing experiences
for sophisticated travelers eager to explore the Earth's most
extraordinary places in extreme comfort. I'm honored to join the
talented team here and build on Sven's legacy as we embrace the
exciting opportunities ahead."
"I am thrilled to be joining Lindblad Expeditions as the new CFO
and to be a part of such a revered Company with a deep heritage,"
said Mr. Goldberg. "With a strong financial foundation and
impressive growth trajectory ahead, I look forward to delivering
long-term value for our shareholders while creating exceptional
guest experiences together with Lindblad Expeditions' talented
leadership team."
Ms. Leahy succeeds Lindblad Expeditions' Founder, Mr. Lindblad,
who will become Founder and Co-Chair of the Board. Mr. Ein will
become Board Co-Chair as well as Lead Independent
Director. Rick Goldberg succeeds L. Dyson Dryden, who has served as interim CFO
since June 2024, and continues his
long-standing position as a Board Director.
To learn more about Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., its
growing portfolio of brands, and the Company's commitment to
responsible exploration, visit
investors.expeditions.com.
About Natalya Leahy:
Natalya Leahy is the former
President of Seabourn, an ultra-luxury cruising and expedition
travel operator. In this role, Ms. Leahy was responsible for all
aspects of the award-winning cruise line's global business and
operations. Prior to taking on the role of President, Ms. Leahy
served as both COO and CFO for Holland America Group—former
division of Carnival Corporation uniting four brands and land
operations. Before joining Holland America Group, Ms. Leahy spent
10 years in multiple leadership roles at The Procter &
Gamble Company, as well as positions in Finance and
Operations at the United Nations, The Coca-Cola Company, and Le
Meriden Uzbekistan.
A native to Uzbekistan, Ms.
Leahy is passionate about diversity, equality, and improving lives
through education. She is a founding member of the Special Olympics
organization in Uzbekistan, and
actively supports the equitable treatment and representation of
women in business, serving as a mentor for many.
About Rick Goldberg:
Rick Goldberg has served as CFO at
Founders Table Restaurant Group since October 2021. Prior to this, Mr. Goldberg worked
at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc., where he grew through various
leadership positions, including CFO, Senior Vice President of
Finance & Strategy, Vice President & CFO of the Corporate
Retail Division, and more. Mr. Goldberg also co-founded and served
as the COO of City Wine Tours.
About Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.:
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIND; the "Company")
is a leader in global expedition travel, offering immersive,
educational journeys that span all seven continents through its six
pioneering brands. Driven by a passion for the planet and the
belief that there is always more to be discovered, the Company
leads travelers to the farthest reaches of the world with an
expansive portfolio of ship- and land-based expeditions. In
collaboration with National Geographic, Lindblad
Expeditions operates and sells the National
Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions co-brand, which offers
ship-based voyages that allow guests to explore remote destinations
alongside scientists and naturalists, and with state-of-the-art
exploration tools. In addition to its renowned modern expedition
cruises, the Company's award-winning land-based brands—Natural
Habitat Adventures, Off the Beaten
Path, DuVine Cycling + Adventure
Co., Classic Journeys, and Wineland-Thomson
Adventures—provide extraordinary wildlife, cultural, and
adventure-focused experiences. Together, these brands connect
travelers with some of the planet's most inspiring natural and
cultural landscapes, fostering a deep appreciation for the
world.
To learn more about Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc., its
growing portfolio of brands, and the Company's commitment to
responsible exploration, visit
investors.expeditions.com.
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SOURCE Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.
