Appointment follows planned retirement of Alice Norsworthy, a seasoned brand and marketing strategist with more than four decades in travel, tourism and hospitality
Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, today announced the appointment of Luc Bondar as Chief Brand & Commercial Officer, succeeding Alice Norsworthy, who has held leadership roles with Universal for more than 18 years and plans to retire at the end of this year. During her tenure, Norsworthy helped shape the growth and evolution of Universal’s business, including transforming Universal Orlando into a destination resort, expanding the company’s global portfolio, and, most recently, opening Universal Epic Universe.
As Universal continues to grow, the media landscape changes, and the intersection of brand and guest experience plays an increasingly important role, the company is continuing to evolve its commercial approach. Bondar will lead the company’s Brand & Commercial organization, emphasizing the use of Universal’s world-class brand, products, and experiences to build more personalized guest relationships, while harnessing technology and data to drive growth and loyalty. His expanded remit includes overseeing brand strategy, creative and marketing, demand generation, sales, pricing and revenue management, and commercial operations and analytics. Bondar will also serve on the NBCUniversal Marketing Council, working with leaders across the company to maximize the potential of our IP and franchises and lean into culturally relevant moments that advance cross-company initiatives. Bondar will begin his role Oct. 19, reporting to Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO, and serving on the Universal Destinations & Experiences Executive Leadership Team.
“Luc is an accomplished leader who brings a strong combination of global brand strategy and commercial experience, a deep understanding of the consumer and expertise in using technology and data to identify new growth opportunities while deepening relationships with guests and fans,” said Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences. “These capabilities and his experience build on the legacy Alice created and will be a tremendous asset as we continue to pursue our bold ambition to be the Destination of Choice everywhere we bring the Universal brand to life.”
Bondar brings extensive global experience in marketing, loyalty, and commercial operations across the travel, technology, financial services, and retail industries. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer and President of MileagePlus at United Airlines, overseeing brand and consumer marketing, customer growth, personalization, digital capabilities, analytics, and strategic partnerships.
“Universal creates moments that stay with families long after they leave the park. I have seen that firsthand with my own family,” said Luc Bondar, Chief Brand & Commercial Officer. “Universal, under Alice’s leadership, has built an extraordinary brand and business around the premise of creating powerful, lasting memories for its guests. It is an honor to build on this foundation as Universal’s portfolio grows, and I look forward to getting started and learning from the team.”