Princess Cruises’ UK & Europe sales and commercial director Rachel Poultney is leaving after nine years.
She is to join the public relations company set up by former Princess UK PR director David Sanders.
Poultney is to start as a director at cruise and travel PR agency, PR42, in early September.
The PR firm set up two years ago has 13 clients including Clia, cruise.co.uk, Riviera Travel and Sail Croatia.
Poultney has grown Princess’ sales team to 14 and overseen trade support and engagement for multiple ship launches.
She led both the commercial and sales functions through the post-pandemic period, into Princess’ return to service including the introduction of domestic ‘seacations’ in summer 2021.
Poultney previously held PR and marketing roles at AviaCircle, Trafalgar Tours and Bales Worldwide.
She said: “For anyone that knows David, it is no surprise that PR42 has done so well in its first start-up years. He is a PR guru and one of the most personable guys in the travel industry, so PR42 was always going to succeed.
“I’m genuinely excited to be joining the venture and can’t wait to see where it goes from here.”
Sanders said: “It’s a fantastic coup to secure Rachel as PR42’s first hire and I can’t wait for us to team up again.
“She is one of the most dynamic and talented colleagues I’ve worked with, and brings with her the experience and know-how that will take us to the next level.
“PR42 has gone from strength-to-strength in just two years and it’s clear that we can be more than a match for our larger, more established contemporaries. Rachel and I will build on that ethos of a small agency delivering big results.”