BackInternational Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (“ICE”) today announced that Mike Nelson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors effective July 1, 2020. Mr. Nelson was most recently the CEO of Global Travel Insurance for Allianz. Brian Fontana, who has served as the company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, and Chief Financial Officer for the last 6+ months, will continue to lead the finance function and serve as ICE’s Chief Financial Officer.
“Mike is an accomplished leader, with a track record of working in high-growth companies within the travel industry. He brings a proven mix of talent, operational experience, technical breadth and a passion for customer care,” said Marty Cole, Chairman of the Board. “We are confident Mike can lead the company through our next phase of growth and success, building on the more than 20 year history of innovation and industry leadership. On behalf of the Board, we’re excited to welcome Mike to the team and want to thank Brian for his leadership during this interim period.”
“ICE has invested extensively in the development of its advanced customer experience and monetization platforms for travel and loyalty membership. Mike’s strong technical and business background will enable the company to continue to build upon its strategic advantages in the global travel marketplace,” said John Rowley, member of ICE’s Board of Directors, founder and former CEO.
“ICE has proven to be a highly resilient business over the past year and has remained a leader in the travel industry. As the majority investor, we believe Mike has the experience and is the right person to lead the company as we pursue growth with existing and new customers across a range of different markets, further penetrate international markets and broaden our offerings with new products and enhanced technology,” said Andrew Olinick, Partner of 3i Group and a member of ICE’s Board of Directors. “We welcome Mike to the team and are ready to support him in his new role with ICE.”
“I am honored to join the team at ICE as its Chief Executive Officer,” said Mike Nelson. “Over the years, ICE has built a very successful travel distribution company that has unique capabilities in the areas of membership, loyalty and revenue management. I believe the company has tremendous opportunities to capitalize on this foundation and innovate for the future. I look forward to working with the team to enhance the customer experience and the value proposition to our partners.”
About Mike Nelson
Prior to joining ICE, Mike was the CEO of Global Travel Insurance for Allianz, one of the world’s largest insurers and asset managers. He has led the multi-billion-dollar global specialty insurance and assistance business since 2012. Under his leadership, the company had consistent double-digit growth in revenue and profit, leading to the top market share position in the industry. The company achieved these results with a focus on the customer and employee experience, as evidenced by continuous improvements to Net Promoter Scores and associate engagement.
Prior to Allianz, Mike was part of the management team that launched Orbitz and helped grow the business to over $11 billion in gross travel bookings. Mike held several roles at Orbitz, including President of Partner Services and Global Chief Operating Officer. Mike was responsible for a range of functions during his tenure, including supplier relations, product development, technology, operations, advertising sales and financial planning. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. His degrees are from the University of Minnesota. Earlier in his career, Mike was a CPA with a public accounting firm, and worked at The Pillsbury Company and Deluxe Corporation.
