P&O Cruises and Cunard have announced plans for a complete overhaul of their sales team structure in what would be the brands’ biggest restructure for a decade.
The proposals would see the sales team expanded from 31 to 42 staff; however, every existing role within the sales team has been changed. A 30-day consultation period began this week with staff.
Carnival UK said “a significant number of the 42 roles” would be open to internal and external applications, with jobs being posted online today.
The cruise firm claimed it was unclear whether there would be any redundancies at this stage, and said this wouldn’t be known until the end of the process.
The proposals will see the creation of three teams – national partnerships, managed by Nathaniel Sherborne, retail partnerships led by Shane Riley, and sales operations headed by Natasha Richardson.
Sherborne and Riley will manage at least three business managers each who will work with accounts day to day.
The national and retail partnerships team will also have field based staff offering regional support. Richardson’s team will oversee investment in training and sales support.
The new structure will include the introduction of dedicated resources for Cunard for the first time under Carnival and an expanded field sales team with greater focus on building up regional business.
Agency partners will be grouped and managed based on whether they are retail or national accounts.
Vice president of sales, Alex White (pictured), said: “We can’t offer a one size fits all approach, and the proposed structure will mean we can offer a more tailored, more efficient and customised approach to the trade.
“We will have more resources available and will be able to help newer agents grow their business with us.
“The new structure is much more logical in that it works for agents who don’t currently sell a lot to help them sell more, as well as supporting our key partners.”