PONANT announces the appointment of Benoît-Etienne Domenget as Group CEO

Benoît-Etienne Domenget is appointed as Group CEO, effective November 3, 2025. He takes over from Hervé Gastinel, who is leaving the Group to pursue new professional projects.

Photo credits: PONANT

With 25 years of experience in hospitality, luxury, travel, and tourism, Benoît-Etienne Domenget will have the mission to further drive the Group’s continued international development and further strengthen its hallmark of hospitality excellence, while honoring PONANT’s unique maritime savoir-faire and the industry’s highest environmental standards.

François-Henri Pinault stated: "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 PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP an ever-stronger and more innovative player in the luxury and responsible cruise sector. He will be able to rely on a highly talented team." He added: "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 PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP has successfully diversified its activities, in particular by entering river cruises and new formats such as the Spirit of Ponant."