Asta Lassesen, Hurtigruten Expeditions’ New Groundbreaking CEO At the age of 29, Asta Lassesen was already one of the youngest CFOs in the cruise industry — but she was not done there. A few years later, she became the first female CEO of Hurtigruten Expeditions, one of the oldest companies in the travel industry. In this episode, sponsored by Hurtigruten Expeditions, Kenneth Shapiro (Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West) chats with Lassesen about her experience working as a young female chief executive for a company with a long history. Listeners will also hear about Lassesen’s childhood in Norway, where she grew up as a member of a fishing family. (Hint: She started working at age 7.) Asta Lassesen Lassesen will also highlight Hurtigruten’s current cruise offerings and the company’s plans for the future, which include sailing to amazing destinations far beyond its core polar itineraries. She also discusses what’s behind Hurtigruten’s strong push for sustainable cruising, and what she would like to see from her cruise industry peers.