NCLH Names Meghan Montana as New Chief Financial Officer Effective 2027

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) announced that Meghan Montana, currently the company's Chief Strategy Officer, will take over as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective January 1, 2027. Montana succeeds Mark Kempa, who is stepping down after more than 25 years with the cruise line.

Kempa has held the CFO position since 2018, according to Seatrade Cruise, and has been with Norwegian since 1999, during which he was involved in the company's initial public offering and the acquisitions of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, according to statements from CEO John Chidsey cited by Cruise Industry News and Seatrade Cruise. Chidsey noted that Kempa's financial leadership was key to the company's survival during the COVID-19 pandemic and to recent cost-saving initiatives both onboard and ashore. Kempa will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until June 2027 to support the transition.

Montana joined NCLH in January 2026 as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing the transformation office, the recovery strategy and global outsourcing initiatives. Before joining the cruise line, she worked at American Airlines, where she served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Corporate Development and, prior to that, as Treasurer, overseeing global banking, fleet transactions and asset management during the pandemic. She also held senior banking positions at Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland, and holds an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business and an undergraduate degree in Finance from Miami University.

According to Seatrade Cruise, Montana's annual base salary in her new role will be $875,000, while the previously agreed sign-on bonus of $1.55 million remains in place, of which $750,000 has already been paid, with two remaining installments of $400,000 each due in March 2027 and March 2028. The outlet also noted that the Chief Strategy Officer position Montana is vacating will not be filled by anyone else, and that the strategy team will continue reporting to her.

In confirming the change, Chidsey emphasized the board's confidence in Montana's financial expertise and her understanding of the priorities of the company's recovery plan. Kempa, for his part, called it a privilege to have led the finance department and noted that he is leaving the company with a solid strategy and a strong foundation for the future. Montana said she was honored to take on the role at this stage of NCLH's recovery process and indicated that her focus would be on disciplined execution and capital allocation, while also thanking Chidsey, the board and Kempa for their leadership.