Cunard names new President and Managing Director

[cruiserking]

This just in off the wire from Cunardland...

 

VALENCIA, Calif., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Carol Marlow has been named the

new president and managing director of Cunard Line, it was announced today.

The UK-based Marlow was most recently Cunard's managing director for

Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and she also served as UK managing

director for Princess Cruises and chairman of Swan Hellenic.

As president and managing director of Cunard, Marlow will report to Peter

Ratcliffe, chief executive officer of P&O Princess Cruises International*, the

Carnival Corporation division which includes Cunard Line. She will have

worldwide responsibility for the luxury Cunard brand, which includes the

already legendary Queen Mary 2 and the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2, the only true

ocean liners in operation. A new liner, Queen Victoria, will debut in

December 2007.

"I am pleased to appoint Carol as president and managing director of

Cunard," said Ratcliffe. "Her wide array of experience with a number of

cruise companies, along with her leadership skills and understanding of

international markets, will add considerably to the strength of the Cunard

brand. She is in an excellent position to help maximize the potential of

Cunard around the globe, and help further develop the guest base for our

distinctive ocean liner vacation experience."

Said Marlow, "I am delighted to be appointed to this position, because I

believe there's a tremendous opportunity to help further develop the Cunard

brand, and add to its impressive legacy of 165 years. Perhaps because I am

British, I have an especially strong passion for Cunard and for the unique

experience we offer our guests. I also look forward to expanding our

relationship with the travel agent community."

Since Marlow joined P&O Princess Cruises (now Carnival plc) in 1997, she

has been involved with a total of five cruise brands, first starting as

managing director of Swan Hellenic. She subsequently worked for P&O Cruises

for two years overseeing sales and marketing, and in 2002 she became

responsible for growing the Princess Cruises business from the UK when she was

appointed UK managing director. In July 2004 Marlow took over as managing

director for Cunard Line in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and also took

responsibility for the UK sales of Seabourn.

Prior to her cruise industry career she worked for Thomson Tour Operations

on their specialist brands, Lakes & Mountain, Ski Thomson, Thomson Citybreaks

and Freestyle. She moved to Forte Hotels as marketing director of the Forte

Posthouse and Traders Restaurant brand. In 1994 she moved to IVN

Communications, a producer and distributor of special interest travel

documentary programmes to TV channels worldwide. As UK general manager, she

was responsible for production, acquisition and distribution of programming to

the UK, European and Middle Eastern broadcasters.

Marlow became chairman of the cruise section of the UK Passenger Shipping

Association (PSA) in 2002, and has also recently become a director of the PSA.

Marlow graduated from Southampton University, England with a first class

honors degree in Economics and Business.

She will continue to be based in Britain, but will split her time between

the UK and the US.

A native of Britain, Marlow was born and lives in London.

 

* P&O Princess Cruises International is a division of Carnival

Corporation & plc, which includes Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Carnival UK

and Carnival Australia.

 

Cunard Line has operated the most famous ocean liners in the world since

1840. Cunard vessels have a classic British heritage and include the

legendary Queen Elizabeth 2 and Queen Mary 2. Queen Victoria joins the fleet

in 2007.

 

Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The

exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line,

Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn.

Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value,

member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they

offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable

destinations.

 

Cruiserking

[carlmm]

Does this imply that Carnival recognized that Cunard deserves an own responsible president and maybe even an own identity?

Or is it to impose even more Princess-style on Cunard?

Is this a good sign or a bad?

[guernseyguy]

Does this imply that Carnival recognized that Cunard deserves an own responsible president and maybe even an own identity?

Or is it to impose even more Princess-style on Cunard?

Is this a good sign or a bad?

 

In truth, time will tell. I don't think Carnival/Princess have ever thought Cunard did not have its own identity - perhaps its easier to manage separately. In defence of Ms Marlow;

• Southampton educated
  
• Swan Hellenic (upscale niche) experience
  
• Princess experience was UK based

So I think if Ratcliffe wanted to 'Princessify' Cunard he would have sent someone from Valencia.

 

However, from another thread:

 

"Having sailed a westbound transatlantic a year ago, the new Cunard president recalled the arrival in Manhattan as `absolutely stunning and fantastic though marred a little by the logistics of getting off the ship.' Brooklyn will offer the same views with improved logistics and capacity, she said."

 

Which at least is a lot better than the Princess dunderhead who thinks 'most are asleep on arrival' - and the comment about the logistics of getting off the ship fair, though 'Brooklyn will offer the same views' perhaps a tad optimistic. At least she's done a Trans Atlantic.

 

Time will tell - and perhaps she'll have something to say about QUEEN VICTORIA soon - as surely the clock is ticking.....

 

Peter