Ponant has appointed experienced exec Benoît-Etienne Domenget as the new Group CEO, taking over from Hervé Gastinel, who leaves Ponant Explorations Group to pursue new professional projects.
Domenget brings 25 years’ experience in hospitality, luxury, travel and tourism to the role and will be responsible for furthering the Group’s continued international development.
He most recently spent eight years as CEO of Sommet Education, a leader in hospitality and luxury management education, along with senior positions at Michel Reybier Hospitality and Accor Group.
At Accor Group, he held various operational roles before being appointed Senior Vice-President Development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He later led Accor’s Swiss subsidiary and managed the low-cost hotel business across the DACH region, overseeing more than 100 properties.
François-Henri Pinault, founder of Artémis, the parent company of Ponant, said: “I am delighted to welcome Benoît-Etienne Domenget. His extensive and diversified experience and expertise in strategic fields for our company will give him all the assets to make the Group an ever-stronger and more innovative player in the luxury and responsible cruise sector.”
“We warmly thank Hervé Gastinel for his unwavering commitment to the Group. Under his leadership, the fleet has grown from 12 to 20 ships, and the Group has successfully diversified its activities, in particular by entering river cruises and new formats, such as the Spirit of Ponant.”
The Group has offered luxury exploration cruises for 35 years through its brands, Ponant Explorations, Paul Gauguin Cruises, the recently acquired Aqua Expeditions and the soon-to-launch, Ponant Yachting.
Domenget commences as Group CEO on 3 November 2025.
Find out more at ponant.com
