Marie McKenzie has over 26 years of experience in the cruise industry. She started her career with Carnival Corporation & plc in 1996. Since then, she has held numerous leadership roles with increasing responsibilities.

Since December 2016, McKenzie was appointed to represent eight of the nine leading cruise brands under Carnival Corporation. Today, as the Vice President, Government and Destination Affairs, she leads the company in its largest cruise market, the Caribbean, in strategic engagement opportunities with government, regional and local community organizations. This responsibility encompasses over 27 countries, and more than 57 ports that are regularly visited by the company’s brands, carrying as many as 10 million annual cruise guests to the region. Her role is key in supporting the company’s strategic infrastructure and operational development efforts throughout the Caribbean.

Prior to this, as Vice President of Global Destinations, Services & Sourcing, McKenzie led a team of brand experts in coordinating and managing the sourcing processes and relationships with tour operators and port services officials in over 720 ports visited by Carnival Corporation’s brands around the globe. Previously, she also served as Vice President of Global Financial Planning and Analysis, where she became an integral part in interpreting and engaging all nine brands in preparing the company’s executive team for its quarterly earnings guidance and position on the overall strategy and financial direction of the company. She also led the process of capturing, consolidating, and analyzing data, as well as leading the corporation’s annual budget and planning process that is key to the execution of the company’s long-term strategy.

Before joining the corporate team, McKenzie supported the Carnival Cruise Line brand in various roles, including her first appointment to vice president, leading financial operations onboard the brand’s 22 ship fleet at that time. McKenzie began her career in 1992 with Arthur Andersen LLP in Washington, DC. She is originally from Jamaica, West Indies, and a graduate of Howard University where she earned her bachelor’s degree cum laude in accounting. She also attended Florida International University where she earned a master’s degree cum laude in international business.