Carnival's Bob Dickinson Announces Retirement

Bob Dickinson, the president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines, has announced that he's decided to retire at the end of 2007 after 35 years with the company. Gerry Cahill, who's currently the vice president and chief financial officer for parent company Carnival Corp., will be assuming Dickinson's duties.

"I have been blessed to have had a long, fun-filled career helping to build Carnival and the cruise industry," Bob Dickinson is quoted as saying in a company statement. "I'm still having fun, so giving all of that up has been a very difficult decision, but I'll be 65 next month and have been pondering this with my family for some time."

Dickinson joined Carnival as executive vice president in 1972. In 1979, he became senior vice president of sales and marketing. He was promoted to president in 1993, with CEO added to his title in 2005.

He has also served as a chairman of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the Travel Industry Association (TIA) and the Miami Beach Visitors and Convention Authority, in additional to a position as vice-chair for the United States National Tourism Organization.

Dickinson will remain on Carnival's board of directors.