Hornblower Names Shaw COO

Hornblower Cruises & Events has appointed Bob Shaw, a senior executive with more than three decades of operations experience, to the position of chief operating officer. In his new role, Shaw will be responsible for day-to-day management of all Hornblower companies, including charter yacht and public dining operations and two National Park Service concession contracts. "Bob’s management and passenger vessel industry experience along with his accomplishments as an executive for several multi-million dollar companies give him invaluable perspective. He is a proven strong leader, and we are pleased to welcome him to the Hornblower team," says Hornblower CEO Terry MacRae.

Shaw is a LEED-accredite d professional who most recently served as president for the mechanical contracting company R.M. Thornton, Inc., which recorded $40 million in annual sales serving the federal government and health care clients. His hospitality experience includes an 11years as CEO and managing partner of Odyssey Cruises/Premier Yachts, Inc., an eight vessel dining and excursion boat operator that was acquired by a private equity firm under his guidance. Shaw also managed three divisions within Sodexho, S.A., the world’s largest contract services division, leading the acquisition of Virginia-based Spirit Cruises and doubling the company’s fleet to sixteen vessels during his five years  as president and CEO.

Prior to joining Sodexho, Shaw raised three rounds of venture capital as chief operating officer for the Warburton’s bakery chain and expanded the company from five to 25 locations before it was sold to Au Bon Pain, Inc. He also completed t wo deployments and served as aide-de-camp to the commanding general of 80,000 Marines and sailors while an infantry officer in the U. S. Marine Corps.

Shaw earned a MBA from Harvard University and completed his undergraduate engineering degree at Cornell University. In addition to competing in eleven marathons and three Ironman triathlons, he wrapped up a cross-country cycling trip in 2010. Shaw and his wife, Michelle, have four college-aged children.