Carnival UK, Cunard Line and P&O Cruises UK today announced a new commercial leadership structure, reporting into Gerard Tempest, its chief commercial officer, based in Southampton, England.

Key changes are the creation of new marketing director and insight director roles alongside the existing positions of international development director, sales & customer services director, and commercial director.

Gerard Tempest said: “This is an exciting time for Cunard Line, and this new structure has been designed to deliver the many opportunities ahead of us.”

Tempest is a member of an executive team led by CEO David Dingle, responsible for both Cunard Line and its UK-based sister company P&O Cruises, and as part of this organisational change, a similar new structure is also being created for P&O Cruises.

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. 

Peter joined the business in 2002 and has held pivotal leadership roles within Cunard, Ocean Village and Princess Cruises UK.  Peter has been instrumental in the growth and transformation of the Cunard business into the success that it is today, overseeing the launches of Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.

P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow will also be leaving the business at the end of September. 

Carol joined the business in 1997 and over her 16 years with the organisation has successfully led a number of brands including Swan Hellenic, Princess Cruises UK, Cunard and P&O Cruises, Britain’s leading cruise line.  Carol has directed the launch of five new ships, driving growth and building our brands around the needs of our customers, to whom she is well known.

Tempest continued: “I would like to thank both Peter and Carol for their very significant contributions to the success of the business over many years and wish them every success in their future endeavours.

“North America is a very important market for Cunard 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.”

The recruitment of the new insight director and of marketing directors for both Cunard and P&O Cruises is already at an advanced stage, and a further announcement will be made shortly.

As a result of these changes David Dingle formally assumes the titles of CEO Cunard Line and CEO P&O Cruises.