The content has been rewritten to preserve the original structure and SEO integrity:
P&O Ferries has appointed a former DFDS executive to succeed Peter Hebblethwaite, known for his controversial fire-and-rehire policy that earned him the moniker of «Britain’s most hated boss».
Sky News has reported that Kasper Moos, a Dane, will take over as the chief executive of P&O Ferries later this month.
Mr. Moos, who has previously held senior positions at AP Moller Maersk, described P&O Ferries as a globally recognized brand in the ferry industry, providing essential passenger and freight connections between the UK, continental Europe, and within the UK.
«I am eager to start working, continuing the transformation of this esteemed company, and ensuring that we deliver high-quality service to our customers,» Mr. Moos stated in a memo to P&O Ferries employees.
The arrival of Mr. Moos will facilitate a seamless transition following Mr. Hebblethwaite’s turbulent tenure, during which he dismissed hundreds of seafarers and replaced them with cheaper agency staff.
In 2022, Mr. Hebblethwaite became infamous when P&O Ferries, a subsidiary of the Dubai-based ports operator DP World, announced the immediate dismissal of 800 staff, some of whom were informed via video message.
The controversial policy defended by Mr. Hebblethwaite sparked a national scandal and led to legislative changes to protect workers.
P&O Ferries transports 4.5 million passengers annually between the UK and continental European ports such as Calais and Rotterdam.
The company also operates a route between Northern Ireland and Scotland and is a significant freight carrier.
During the pandemic, the company experienced significant losses, with DP World, its sole shareholder, providing substantial financial support through loans amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds.
The most recent delayed accounts showed a considerable reduction in losses in 2023 to just over £90m compared to the previous year’s figure of almost £250m, partly due to cost-cutting measures.
Mr. Hebblethwaite argued that the company would have faced insolvency without the drastic cost-cutting measures implemented in 2022.
The company asserted that those affected by the redundancies were offered enhanced packages to depart.
In October, the then transport secretary, Louise Haigh, condemned the mass sackings by P&O Ferries as a national scandal that must not recur, emphasizing the need to safeguard seafarers from unscrupulous employers.
This characterization of P&O Ferries as rogue and the suggestion of a consumer boycott initiated a dispute that risked overshadowing the government’s International Investment Summit in October.
Sky News’s business and economics correspondent, Paul Kelso, disclosed that DP World withdrew from the event and paused a £1bn investment announcement.
After Sir Keir Starmer distanced the government from Ms. Haigh’s depiction of DP World, the company reversed its decision.
A spokesperson for P&O Ferries confirmed Mr. Moos’s appointment.