Executive Team

Torstein “Tor” Hagen has served as Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Viking since our founding in 1997. At the time, Viking was established with the purchase of four ships and the vision that travel could be more destination focused and culturally immersive. Since then, Viking has grown to a fleet of more than 90 vessels, offering river, ocean and expedition voyages on all seven continents.

A Norway native, Tor has extensive experience in the shipping and cruise industry and served as Chief Executive Officer of Bergen Line from 1976 to 1983 and of Royal Viking Line from 1981 to 1984. He was a member of the board of directors of Holland America Line/HAL Holding N.V. from 1985 to 2015, and he was a member of the board of directors of Kloster Cruise Ltd. from 1993 to 1994. Tor was formerly a Partner at McKinsey & Company.

Tor has developed a passion and appreciation for science and technology throughout the course of his education and career. As the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship, he studied computers at Wesleyan University. He holds a degree in physics from the Norwegian Institute of Technology, where he completed his Master’s Thesis related to artificial intelligence and machine learning. He also holds an M.B.A from Harvard University.

Leah Talactac is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Viking, responsible for the company’s financial functions, including accounting, audit, corporate finance, tax, and investor relations. In this role, she leads and provides strategic direction to a global team of talented finance professionals and problem solvers who partner with business leaders to execute the company’s growth strategy. Leah also oversees corporate governance and is a liaison to the board of directors.

Her career spans more than 25 years of experience in financial management, business leadership, and corporate strategy. Leah has held a number of additional senior roles at Viking including Group Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. Prior to joining Viking in 2006, Leah was a Manager at Ernst & Young LLP in Los Angeles. She holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Southern California, Leventhal School of Accounting.

Linh Banh, Executive Vice President of Finance, is responsible for worldwide corporate financial planning and analysis, capital markets, and human resources in the US. Since joining the company in 2006, Linh has held multiple positions within the accounting and finance department and has played an instrumental role in key corporate milestones, including three investment rounds, multiple debt issuances and the initial public offering in 2024.

Prior to joining Viking, Linh served as Assistant Controller for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. from July 2005 to August 2006. She also served as a Senior Auditor at Ernst & Young LLP in Los Angeles. Linh has a B.A. in business economics with a minor in accounting from the University of California, Los Angeles. 

Jeff Dash, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Development, is a seasoned travel industry veteran with over three decades of experience. In his current role, Jeff is responsible for all aspects of planning and operations for Viking’s global fleet of ocean and expedition ships that take guests to more than 300 cities around the world. Jeff has meaningfully contributed to Viking’s growth and product expansion over the years, including the launch of ocean cruising in 2015, expansion into the Asian market in 2016 and ongoing advancements in eco-friendly propulsion systems run on hydrogen fuel cells. Jeff also manages Viking’s global technology team and is credited with developing and implementing the organization’s IT strategy. 

During his decades in the industry, Jeff has built expertise in a wide range of functions including finance, accounting, ship operations, technology, and marketing. Prior to joining Viking in 2001, Jeff held various executive and senior management roles at Princess and Renaissance Cruises.  Born and raised in Miami Beach, Jeff received a B.S. in accounting from Florida International University.

Karine Hagen, Executive Vice President of Product, and the daughter of Torstein Hagen, has served in varying capacities at Viking since its inception. Widely recognized as the face of the brand in Viking’s television advertisements and cultural enrichment films, Karine is responsible for Viking’s overall branding as well as product development.

Prior to Viking, Karine held positions with Arthur Andersen, J. Walter Thompson, Genesys and Telenor. She has degrees in Soviet Studies and Economics from Wellesley College, an M.A. in Russia and East European Studies from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from BI Norwegian Business School.

Anton “Tony” Hofmann serves as Executive Vice President responsible for Viking’s worldwide river fleet operations. In his role, he leads strategic planning for the river fleet, including new build planning, design, contracting, and ship financing, as well as all day-to-day operations related to the river fleet. Tony has more than thirty years of experience in the cruise industry and has worked with Viking in various senior management functions since its inception in 1997.

Prior to joining Viking, Tony served as Operations Manager for I.C.H. International Cruise and Hotel Management, where he supervised the upgrading of operational standards for eight river vessels in Russia and Ukraine. Tony was born and raised in Austria and has a degree in hotel management from The Hotel Management School in Innsbruck, Austria.

Milton Hugh, Viking’s Executive Vice President of Sales, oversees the company’s North American sales department and worldwide yield management, including call centers in the US, South Africa and Philippines, air operations and travel agent partnerships. Since joining Viking in 2006, Milton has served in a number of capacities, including accounting, finance, and revenue management. He has helped scale the business through several strategic initiatives, including the establishment of call centers in South Africa and Philippines and the launch of Viking’s Mississippi product.

Prior to joining Viking, Milton was employed by Grand Circle Travel Corporation from April 2002 to September 2006, last serving as Senior Vice President of Planning. He also worked at Renaissance Cruises from June 1996 to September 2001, last serving as Director of Strategic Planning and Treasury Operations. He has a B.S. in finance and an M.B.A. from the University of Miami in Florida.

Richard Marnell is Viking’s Executive Vice president of Marketing, leading a wide range of functions, including strategy, database, consumer insights, digital, creative, advertising, communications and public relations. He also oversees Viking’s international sales offices in Australia and the United Kingdom. Since he joined Viking in 2007, the company has grown exponentially; a significant portion of that growth can be attributed to Viking’s marketing efforts, including its highly visible sponsorship of PBS’ MASTERPIECE.

A Boston native, Richard has more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry. Prior to Viking, he spent nearly a decade at Grand Circle Corporation, ultimately serving as Vice President of Product Marketing. He also served as Operating Vice President of Direct Marketing for The J. Jill Group, Inc. Richard holds a B.A. in Economics from Fordham University and an M.B.A. from Babson College.