Transcend Cruises expands leadership team ahead of first ship launch

Transcend Cruises has expanded its global team with four new appointments ahead of the launch of its first purpose-built vessel this August.

The charter-only river cruise company has appointed Gayle Lehmann as head of sales, Anita Gonsalves as director of affinity sales, Johannes Jungwirth as director of sales, Europe and Mario Tramacere as CFO, Europe.

The appointments span sales, European commercial development strategy and finance as the company prepares to launch its first ship dedicated to the group market.

Lehmann will report to Transcend’s chief operating officer Kimberly Daley and lead the company’s global sales organization across key charter verticals.

In the role, she will develop and manage Transcend’s global sales strategy, build the company’s commercial team and support revenue growth through strategic accounts and charter opportunities.

Lehmann joins Transcend from Ultimate Jet Vacations, where she led the company’s Africa division. 

She previously served on the executive leadership team at Geographic Expeditions, holding head of sales and director of global sales roles. 

She also held the role of operations program manager at Bushtracks Expeditions.

As director of affinity sales, Gonsalves will focus on new charter business from organizations with built-in networks and shared interests, including alumni associations, clubs, membership-based groups, lifestyle brands, cause-driven organizations and other affinity-based networks.

Gonsalves most recently served as director, affinity group sales with Aurora Expeditions. 

Before that, she was director of affinity sales at Grand Circle Travel/Overseas Adventure Travel in Boston and also spent six years as director of operations with Grand Circle Travel.

Transcend is also building its European-based team, with Europe serving as both the company’s operational hub and a source market for future growth.

Jungwirth joins Transcend Cruises as director of sales, Europe. 

Based in Bonn, Germany, he will lead the company’s meetings, incentives, conferences and events sales efforts throughout Europe, with a focus on German-speaking markets.

He brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience and most recently served as general manager of Hotel Rheinland in Bonn for eight years. 

He has also held sales, marketing, operations and consultancy roles across the hospitality industry in Germany, Australia and Spain. 

Jungwirth previously served as Germany’s president of Skal International.

Tramacere joins Transcend as CFO, Europe, based in Basel, Switzerland.

He will be part of Transcend’s executive leadership team and oversee European financial operations, including shipyard milestone management, construction financing, long-term financing for new ship builds and financial institution and investor relations.

Tramacere brings management and finance experience in the global travel industry. 

He most recently spent a decade as a partner of EOS Management, a Switzerland-based company active in the tour and cruise industries. 

Before that, he spent more than 15 years with Grand Circle Corporation, where he held senior leadership roles with the Boston-based tour operator.

“As Transcend prepares to launch our first ship this summer on the Rhine River, expanding our in-market expertise is essential to supporting both our operations and commercial growth,” said Daley. 

“Europe is central to our ship operations and an increasingly important source market, while North America remains a primary commercial driver. The appointments add targeted leadership and specialized expertise across global sales, affinity, European MICE development, and finance as we continue scaling the team and infrastructure needed for Transcend’s next stage of growth.”

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