By Nate Wolf

Viking Holdings' new chief executive is taking over a company on the rise, and investors appear excited about the move.

The upscale cruise operator said Thursday that Leah Talactac, previously Viking president and chief financial officer, would be its new CEO, effective immediately. The announcement comes the same day the company reported first-quarter revenue that sailed past estimates.

Viking stock jumped 8.2% on Thursday in response to the flurry of news. Shares are now up 25% this year and 92% over the last 12 months. The company was a Barron's stock pick almost a year ago.

Talactac has been with Viking since 2006, holding various leadership positions in accounting and finance and helping lead the company's 2024 initial public offering. She takes over from Torstein Hagen, who has served as chairman since Viking founding in 1997 and will transition to the role of executive chairman.

"Leah's appointment as CEO is a natural next step," Hagen said in a statement. "The Board and I have full confidence in her ability to lead Viking with the same continuity, discipline and vision that have guided us since Viking was founded."

Viking has rewarded shareholders with solid growth since its IPO. The company reported revenue of $1.05 billion in the first quarter, up 17.5% from last year and above analysts' expectations of $1.01 billion, per FactSet.

The company reported a loss of 12 cents a share for the quarter, compared with a loss of 24 cents last year and better than the 13-cent loss forecast by analysts. Cruise lines tend to have their weakest performances in the first three months of the year because of seasonal travel trends.

Write to Nate Wolf at nate.wolf@barrons.com

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May 14, 2026 11:37 ET (15:37 GMT)

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