Imagine Cruising has appointed seasoned cruise leader Lisa Teiotu as Managing Director – Australasia, succeeding Alex Sirman, who leaves Australia in August 2026 to take on a new role within the Imagine group.
Teiotu steps into the new role leading Imagine Cruising‘s business across Australia and New Zealand, the company’s key trade markets in the region.
She brings leadership experience spanning travel, media and cruising, having previously held senior roles with MSC Cruises, where she was ANZ Managing Director and APAC Head of Business Development at Royal Caribbean Group. Teiotu joins from her most recent position as General Manager at Travel at 60 and before that, Starts at 60.
Her appointment comes as Imagine Cruising continues to build on its reputation for specialsing in premium cruise holidays and tailor-made cruise experiences, pairing hand-picked itineraries with immersive touring, luxury rail journeys, hotel stays and exclusive events.
Current Australasia Managing Director Sirman will depart after seven years with the business, adding that Teiotu’s appointment reflected the strength of the local team and regional opportunities across Australia and New Zealand.
He said Teiotu’s commercial background and long-standing relationships across the Australia and New Zealand markets will underpin the operator’s next phase of growth.
“I know I am leaving Imagine Cruising in great hands with Lisa as we enter the next stage of our journey,” Sirman said.
“I leave Australia with an incredible team, a great deal of pride and huge appreciation for everything we have achieved together over the past seven years.”
The company recently added industry stalwart Pam Nielsen as ANZ Head of Travel Partnerships as the company continues to bolster its travel trade network support in the region.
KARRYON UNPACKS: A leadership change at the top of an operator that lives and breathes the trade is worth noting for advisors who sell its air-inclusive cruise-and-tour packages. Teiotu’s cruise-line pedigree signals continuity and a familiar point of contact heading into the next sailing seasons.
