Cruise Lines International Association president and CEO Kelly Craighead will leave the organization at the end of the year after a nearly six-year stint at CLIA.
Kelly Craighead
CLIA chairman Jason Liberty said Craighead has "worked tirelessly and overseen incredible accomplishments in her five-plus years at CLIA -- from navigating an unprecedented industry shutdown to aligning our ambitious sustainability initiatives to positioning cruise at the forefront of responsible tourism to championing the unparalleled growth in our industry and record-breaking passenger numbers. With Kelly's support having laid a solid foundation for continued success, we look forward to the next phase of growth and progress for CLIA and the global cruise industry."
Craighead led the cruise industry through the pandemic, which was its most tumultuous time in history, navigating the pause of cruise operations and the return to service. Meanwhile, she has championed sustainability measures with a goal toward achieving carbon-reduction goals for 2030 and net-zero carbon cruising by 2050.
She also served as godmother of the Emerald Sakara, a luxury ship introduced last year.
She is also vice chair chairman and executive director of the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit focused on improving the quality of life for people in communities where the cruise industry has extensive partnerships.
Prior to leading CLIA, Craighead served as executive director of the National Travel and Tourism Office at the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2011 to 2017. She also served as an aide to Hilary Clinton during the Clinton administration and led the Democracy Alliance, a network of wealthy donors who coordinated donations to liberal organizations from 2006 to 2013.