Obituary: Rod McLeod, longtime cruise executive and Royal Caribbean founding member
Rod McLeod, the longtime cruise executive and founding member of Royal Caribbean, died on June 3. He was 84.
McLeod's long cruise industry career included executive positions at the each of the Big Three cruise companies, beginning in 1972 as Royal Caribbean's first marketing director before being promoted to CMO and executive vice president of sales, marketing and passenger services. Later, he would serve as president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line and became Carnival Corp.'s senior vice president of marketing.
McLeod was inducted into CLIA's Cruise Industry Hall of Fame in 2015, with the organization saying McLeod was "widely credited with leading an innovative marketing and sales organization that enabled Royal Caribbean to emerge as one of the cruise industry's most powerful and sustainable brands."
Cruise industry leaders mourned the loss of McLeod, remembering him as one of cruising's most influential marketing minds.
"Rod really was a pioneer in the industry," said Richard Fain, the former chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. "He was involved in so many defining elements and growth. Beyond that he was a really good person. He formed so many special relationships. And this is an industry that is built on relationships."
Fain praised McLeod's marketing prowess at a time "when nobody understood what cruising was."
"He was one of the early pioneers to help communicate that cruising was something for everyone and those campaigns were very successful for us," Fain said. "He was instrumental in creating the image of the industry and of Royal Caribbean in people's minds."
Former Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Andy Stuart remembered meeting McLeod for the first time.
"When I joined the industry in 1988, Rod was already one of the key players - his name was always said with reverence," Stuart said. "It was many years before I met him in person, by which time his reputation had only grown. It was quite intimidating to meet him the first time. He took time to chat with me and was the most humble and charming guy you could ever meet."
"He took the time to chat with everyone," Stuart added. "It didn't matter who you were. He impacted the three big industry groups in a significant way and will always be [remembered as] one of the foundations of today's industry. We will miss him. He will always be remembered as one of the good guys."
Rick Sasso, chairman of MSC North America and the former Celebrity Cruises president who first met McLeod in the early 1970s, said McLeod "was a classic marketing genius and so well spoken and likable. You were easily attracted to his words and thoughts. He brought incredible attention to our industry and their brands. ... He had a great impact and was one of one of the most talented and well-respected" of the old guard of cruise executives.
McLeod was also president of American Classic Voyages for two years and, after retiring from a third Royal Caribbean stint in 2003, cofounded a consulting company, McLeod Applebaum & Partners.
His grandson, Matthew Roderick Armstrong, said that McLeod's "proudest achievements were the friendships he built across boardrooms and ports, and the fierce, unwavering love he poured into his family. Whether brainstorming bold new voyages with colleagues or cheering at every grandkid's recital, he measured success by the bonds he forged and the smiles he sparked."
Armstong said that while the family has not begun formal planning for McLeod's funeral, "our family intends to honor Rod's wish for an intimate gathering by taking a cruise together that calls at many of the ports he loved most - especially Perfect Day at Coco Cay, the island experience he helped bring to life. Truly, the hardest decision will be choosing which of the cruise lines he shaped that we'll sail with."
McLeod is survived by two of his three children, six of his seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report: Ratepayers will foot the bill for power transmission project
Jun. 7—MORGANTOWN — Depending on who you ask, NextEra's MidAtlantic Resiliency Link transmission project will either take advantage of West Virginia ratepayers and countryside to power up data centers in Virginia — or it'll be an economic boon to the Mountain State, generating hundreds of jobs and hundreds of millions in tax revenue. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis is solidly in the former camp. In a May report compiled by Cathy Kunkel, "West Virginia Ratepayers Footing the Bill for Infrastructure Build Out, " the IEEFA makes the claim that two power transmission projects slated to run through West Virginia on their way to northern Virginia will cost West Virginia ratepayers more than $440 million over the next 40 years despite the demand being almost entirely attributable to data centers. A data center is a physical room, building or facility that houses IT infrastructure for building, running and delivering online applications and services, according to IBM. One of those projects, a billion-dollar transmission line that includes NextEra's MidAtlantic Resiliency Link, is looking at parts of Monongalia and Preston counties as a route for the 105-mile "major highway " of 500-kilovolt overhead transmission lines running from Greene County to Frederick County, Va. The project will require a 200-foot right of way along its entire length and terminate in northern Virginia, which already has the highest concentration of data centers in the world. The power-hungry facilities are being built at an increasingly rapid pace. According to the IEEFA, electricity demand across the 13-state territory under grid operator PJM Interconnection remained relatively flat for nearly two decades. That's changed in the last three years due almost exclusively to the rise of data centers. As of 2023, data centers accounted for more than one-quarter of the electricity consumption in the state of Virginia, based on data presented by IEEFA. One large data center, the report states, can draw as much power as a city. The think tank says the traditional method of cost allocation — spreading the cost of capital investments across the customer base — isn't equitable when capital improvements are being constructed to feed a single customer or a very small group of customers. "As this report explains in greater detail, traditional methods of cost allocation for major new transmission projects in PJM have not yet been reconsidered in light of the new challenges posed by data center demand growth." The Dominion Post reached out to NextEra with three questions: What benefit will West Virginians receive in exchange for the large transmission lines running through rural parts of the state ? What percentage of the power being pulled from Pennsylvania to Virginia will support data centers ? Will residential ratepayers end up subsidizing the construction of this project in any way ? "The MidAtlantic Resiliency Link is one of the transmission projects PJM selected to enhance grid reliability for customers locally and across the region, " NextEra replied in a statement. "While it's part of a regional solution, the local benefits are significant. The [MARL ] would create hundreds of construction and support jobs, which will, in turn, drive significant investment in the local economy, growing existing businesses and attracting new businesses. Importantly, West Virginia is projected to receive an estimated $150-$400 million in taxes over the 40-year life of this project, depending on the length and route of the final transmission line. The [MARL ] would help drive economic development throughout the state." But before any of that comes to pass, a route must be finalized. Some residents in Monongalia and Preston counties have started voicing concerns about the possibility of having the transmission lines run through or near their properties. Property owners in rural, wooded and farming areas fear they'll be forced to give up ground through eminent domain should their land fall in the chosen path. On May 29, the Preston County Commission passed a resolution opposing the MARL project as currently proposed and urging state and federal regulators, as well as NextEra, to halt development of the project through Preston County. Asked whether a similar resolution might come out of Monongalia County, Commissioner Sean Sikora said the commission is doing its due diligence and has reached out to Preston County for a copy of the resolution—but isn't ready to take any kind of public stance on the matter. NextEra has conducted a series of open house-style public meetings in recent weeks to discuss, among other things, the potential routes, and intends to make its choice known to the various state public service commissions this fall. According to the current timeline, the project is to be completed by the end of 2031.
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shuffle Board: Better Cotton Names Nonprofit Exec Nick Weatherill CEO
Global sustainability initiative Better Cotton announced Nick Weatherill as its next chief executive officer. Weatherill replaces Alan McClay, who announced his decision to step down last December after leading the organization since 2015. Weatherill previously served as executive director of the International Cocoa Initiative and brings ample experience promoting sustainability and human rights in global supply chains. Atlanta-based company Brrr has named David Ludd as vice president of sales and marketing. Ludd joined the company last year and has over three decades of experience in apparel sales and marketing. He most recently served as Coolcore's chief global sales and marketing officer and previously held senior leadership roles at Converse, Timberland, Nike and Levi Strauss & Co. More from Sourcing Journal Nike's 3D-Printed Air Max Set to Release This Summer StockX Says It Weeded Out Nearly $10 Million Worth of Counterfeit Sneakers Last Year Dr. Martens' Stock Soars as CEO Implements New Strategic Plan Following 'Year of Stabilization' French multinational luxury goods company Dior confirmed that Loewe's former creative director, Jonathan Anderson, will lead fashion for the LVMH-owned label. He'll lead all three Dior collections as creative director of women's, men's and haute couture—marking the first time the house has seen one creative vision since founder Christian Dior helmed the triptych role. Anderson succeeds Maria Grazia Chiuri, who stepped down last month after a nine-year run as Dior's first woman (ever) to lead its women's collection. American denim and sportswear brand True Religion has promoted Kristen D'Arcy and Tina Blake, as the brand expects annual sales to top $450 million this year, according to SJ's sister publication, WWD. D'Arcy was named True Religion's first-ever chief marketing officer in 2023. Now, her role has expanded to CMO and head of digital growth. In addition to leading the marketing team, D'Arcy's will also oversee the e-commerce, analytics, and customer service teams. Tina Blake has been promoted to creative director; SVP design, merchandising and brand image. She joined True Religion in 2022 and most recently served as senior vice president of men's and women's design and brand image. In this role, Blake will oversee the entire merchandising organization as well as her design and brand image leadership responsibilities. Athleticwear giant Nike has named Michael Gonda as chief communications officer, effective July 7. In this role, Gonda will oversee the company's global communications operations and strategy, including corporate and brand reputation, storytelling, issues management and employee engagement. Gonda previously held various leadership roles at McDonald's Corporation, most recently serving as its chief impact officer for North America. British boot brand Dr. Martens has named Carla Murphy as chief brand officer, effective July 1. In this role, Murphy will be responsible for the company's brand strategy and creative direction, as well as overseeing the company's global product, marketing and sustainability teams. She will report to former BSO and current CEO, Ije Nwokorie. Aspen, Colorado-based ski company Sport Obermeyer has announced a new leadership team in preparation for its 2026 rebranding effort. Former Mammut and X-Bionic leader Kris Kuster was named chief executive officer, Kalin Tegman has been promoted to director of sales, and Lilly McSwain has been named customer service manager. Reinforcing the brand's commitment to best-in-class client relationships and service. Founder Klaus Obermeyer will remain an active board member as the oldest living company president at 105 years old. Utah-based footwear brand Kizik has named former Nike exec Gareth Hosford as chief executive officer. In this role, he will work to scale innovation, reach and opportunities for the brand as it continues to transition from a DTC business model to an omni-channel effort. Hosford succeeds Monte Deere, who has held the role since 2019, will continue to serve on the board of Kizik (and its parent company, HandsFree Labs) as to advise on the company's licensing arm of the business. StockX has named Daniel De Jesus Krueger as vice president and head of creative. He will lead the global creative direction of the sneaker resale marketplace, encompassing brand design, imagery and storytelling. Krueger joins StockX from Fulwell Entertainment, an entertainment group founded by athlete LeBron James and sports marketer Maverick Carter, formerly known as SpringHill Company. California surf-and-skate retailer Pacsun has named Rachel Donahue as vice president of human resources. She will oversee all aspects of human resources at Pacsun, including talent development, organizational effectiveness and employee engagement. Donahue brings over two decades of experience leading people strategy across retail and fashion brands. She most recently served as Aritzia's vice president, people and culture, responsible for talent management, executive development and shaping the company culture. Her prior experience includes senior HR roles at Saks, Tory Burch and Macy's. Autonomous delivery network Arrive AI has appointed Laurie Tucker to its board of directors. Tucker, a former senior vice president of marketing at FedEx and an experienced board member, will serve as head of Arrive AI's compensation committee.
CBS News
21 minutes ago
- CBS News
High school students build tiny homes to help solve Marin County's housing crisis
As housing prices continue to soar across the Bay Area, more residents are turning to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a potential solution to the ongoing housing shortage. On Saturday afternoon, a nonprofit organization teamed up with San Rafael High School to showcase two student-built ADUs, constructed from the ground up over the course of the academic year. "The square footage is 160, it's 8 feet by 20 feet," said San Rafael High School senior Joe Miller as he pointed to one of the compact homes. The completed units will soon be placed in Novato, where they'll provide permanent housing for two low-income families. Miller is one of 24 students who contributed to the year-long construction project, learning trade skills alongside six adult apprentices known as "learning leaders." Working under the guidance of the Big Skills Program—run by the nonprofit Rebuilding Together East Bay Network—the students gained hands-on experience in everything from framing to finish work. "This is the kitchen area, dining room as well. We have four pull-out cabinets, a couple of lower ones with some shelves on the bottom as well. And then underneath the sink, you have more storage for cleaning supplies," said Miller, giving a tour of the space. Every inch of the compact units is used with intention. The homes are fully equipped with heating, cooling, and convertible furniture to maximize functionality. "This comes up and then you've got this little stand right here. And then that comes up and then you pull out these little chairs and you can have yourself a nice dinner table," Miller added, demonstrating a fold-out dining space. The construction took the entire school year, from August to May, to complete. "We are so excited to be working in partnership with the Marin Housing Authority to place these units here in the backyards of low-income homeowners right here in Marin," said Program Director Sean Ticknor. Ticknor, who leads the Big Skills Program, emphasized the dual purpose of the initiative: giving students practical trade education while contributing to local affordable housing efforts. "This is not the solution, but it's part of the solution. This provides infill affordable housing in the existing space that we have," Ticknor explained. Each ADU costs about $65,000 in labor and materials, with an additional $40,000 to $60,000 required to place the unit on its permanent foundation and connect utilities, according to Ticknor. "Together, we built something that's going to help someone and probably change someone's life. I think everyone involved is going to walk away feeling a lot better," said learning leader Brandon Werly. For students like San Rafael High senior Wyld Owyeung, the program is not only a class, but preparation for future life skills. "I might own a property in the future. It's good to know what to expect in a house," said Owyeung, who spent two years in the Big Skills Program. Miller described the course as his favorite class in high school, largely because of the impact it will have. "You can't get that [sense of reward] in any other class in high school. That feeling you get when you see it being delivered. It's going to something better than yourself, going to someone in need. And it's just a great feeling to help out people," said Miller. He heads to college in the fall and hopes to one day run his own construction company.
