Seattle, WA – May 18, 2017 – Clipper is pleased to announce that David Gudgel, the company’s current Chief Operations Officer, has been named the company’s new Co-CEO.

Gudgel will join current Co-CEO Tobias Haack in a joint leadership model strategically designed to propel the company’s future growth. Gudgel first joined Clipper in May 2014 as Vice President of Business Development. He then took over the role of Chief Operations Officer in January of 2015 overseeing all daily vessel operations and staff, partner and product partnerships as well as marketing and sales.

Gudgel has been instrumental in Clipper’s strategic market growth, product distribution and passenger service enhancement initiatives. Earlier this year, Clipper announced that they will be launching their new Vancouver to Victoria passenger ferry service in spring 2018.

“David has been instrumental to Clipper’s growth to date as well as shaping the vision for our future expansion with our Vancouver to Victoria route,” said Merideth Tall, Clipper’s founder. “With his leadership, Clipper has solidified its reputation as the trusted Pacific Northwest travel company and rapidly expanded product offerings across a variety of transportation, accommodation, tour and activity options.”

For over 27 years, Gudgel has served in key roles in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, Caribbean and Europe travel markets in cruise, transportation and international package travel segments. He has experience in both large and small organizations, starting his career with Holland America Line and working with Europe Express, an outbound tour operator specializing in custom group and individual travel.

David Gudgel, Clipper’s Chief Operations Officer, is available for phone interviews in Seattle. To arrange an interview, please contact:

Media Contact
David Gudgel
Chief Operations Officer
T 206-443-2560
dgudgel@victoriaclipper.com

About Clipper

Clipper, operator of Clipper Vacations, is well known as the travel experts for the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. Since 1986, Clipper has provided transportation, tours and accommodation packages for over 8 million customers. Clipper offers opportunities to experience picturesque and popular destinations such as: cosmopolitan Seattle or Vancouver, vibrant Victoria, the peaceful San Juan Islands, eclectic Portland, or beautiful Vancouver Island.

About FRS

Förde Reederei Seetouristik (FRS) looks back on more than 150 years of successful history. From a regional passenger ship shipping company, FRS has developed over the past decades into an internationally active group of companies with 62 ships and over 1,500 employees. FRS carries around 7.6 million passengers and 2.1 million vehicles per year on its national and international shipping lines. Today, the north German based FRS Group has in its portfolio 24 subsidiaries located in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and North America. In addition to numerous international ferry and catamaran lines, FRS is also involved in wind-offshore transport with crew transfer boats and maritime consultancy.