1 month ago
20
P&O Ferries has hired a erstwhile DFDS enforcement arsenic successor to Peter Hebblethwaite, the antheral whose arguable fire-and-rehire argumentation earned him the nickname "Britain's astir hated boss".
Sky News has learnt that Kasper Moos, a Dane, volition go the main enforcement of P&O Ferries aboriginal this month.
Mr Moos, who has besides held elder roles astatine AP Moller Maersk, the conglomerate, said successful a memo circulated to P&O Ferries employees connected Thursday: "This is simply a globally recognised marque successful the ferry industry, 1 that contiguous provides captious rider and freight connections betwixt the UK and continental Europe, and wrong the UK.
Money latest: How to springiness your kid a fiscal caput start
"I americium looking guardant to getting to work, continuing the translation of this large company, and ensuring we are providing our customers with the precocious prime work they need."
His accomplishment this period volition guarantee a creaseless succession astatine the helm of the company, pursuing Mr Hebblethwaite's scandal-hit tenure, successful which helium sacked hundreds of seafarers and replaced them with cheaper bureau staff.
Mr Hebblethwaite joined the ranks of Britain's astir notorious firm figures successful 2022 erstwhile P&O Ferries - a subsidiary of the elephantine Dubai-based ports relation DP World - said it was sacking 800 unit with contiguous effect - immoderate of whom learned their destiny via a video message.
The policy, which Mr Hebblethwaite defended to MPs during consequent prime committee hearings, erupted into a nationalist scandal, prompting changes successful the instrumentality to springiness workers greater protection.
P&O Ferries carries 4.5 cardinal passengers annually connected routes betwixt the UK and continental European ports including Calais and Rotterdam.
It besides operates a way betwixt Northern Ireland and Scotland, and is simply a large freight carrier.
The company's losses soared during the pandemic, with DP World - its sole shareholder - supporting it done hundreds of millions of pounds successful loans.
Its astir caller accounts, which were importantly delayed, showed a important simplification successful losses successful 2023 to conscionable implicit £90m.
The simplification from the erstwhile year's fig of astir £250m was partially attributed to outgo simplification exercises.
Mr Hebblethwaite had argued since the wide sackings of 2022 that the institution would person gone bust without the drastic cost-cutting that it entailed.
The institution insisted astatine the clip that those affected by the redundancies had been offered "enhanced" packages to leave.
Last October, the past transport secretary, Louise Haigh, said: "The wide sacking by P&O Ferries was a nationalist ungraded which tin ne'er beryllium allowed to hap again," adding that measures to support seafarers from "rogue employers" would forestall a repetition.
The minister's statement of P&O Ferries arsenic "rogue", and proposition that consumers should boycott the company, sparked a enactment which threatened to overshadow the government's International Investment Summit past October.
Sky News's concern and economics correspondent, Paul Kelso, revealed that DP World had withdrawn from participating successful the event, and paused a £1bn concern announcement.
The institution relented aft Sir Keir Starmer publically distanced the authorities from Ms Haigh's characterisation of DP World.
A P&O Ferries spokesperson confirmed Mr Moos's appointment.
English (US) ·