Cunard announced management structuring changes this morning that will affect both the Cunard brand and the P&O brand.
New positions will report into Gerard Tempest, the chief commercial officer, who will head up both brands and be based in Southampton. Tempest will continue to be a member of the Carnival UK executive team lead by CEO David Dingle.
In announcing the new structuring, Cunard said, "As a consequence, and after very careful consideration, the role of Cunard president & managing director will cease to exist, and Peter Shanks will be leaving the business at the end of September." Carol Marlow, the managing director of the P&O brand will also be leaving the business at the end of September.
New positions of marketing director and insight director have been created and are in the advanced stages of recruitment. Those positions will function alongside the existing positions of international development director, sales & customer services director, and commercial director.
“North America is a very important market for Cunard," said chief commercial officer Gerald Tempest, "and the recent strengthening of our management team there through the appointment of Stanley Birge as vice president, reporting to David Rousham (international development director), demonstrates our deep and longstanding commitment to the North American market.”
As a result of the changes, David Dingle is assuming the titles of CEO Cunard Line and CEO P&O Cruises.
The complete story will appear in today's edition of Cruise News Daily