Holland America Line promotes Karen Farndell

Karen Farndell has been promoted by Holland America Line to associate vice-president of sales and marketing for the UK and Ireland.

She steps up from the role of sales and marketing director after three years.

Farndell will continue to be the most senior representative for HAL based at the Carnival Corporation brand’s UK head office in Southampton.  

She will lead the UK team and remain responsible for driving growth across all areas of sales and marketing, reporting to international sales and marketing vice-president Nico Bleichrodt.

Farndell has more than two decades of experience at Carnival UK, having held a variety of roles with P&O Cruises, Cunard and Princess Cruises within sales, marketing, commercial and PR.

She said: “It’s an exciting time for Holland America Line and we’ve made fantastic progress in the UK and Ireland over the past few years, particularly in raising awareness of our unique destination offering, supporting our travel agent partners via a bespoke training and engagement strategy and reintroducing UK homeport cruising. 

"I’m incredibly proud of the team and everything we’ve achieved together so far, and I’m looking forward to further building on this momentum in my new position."

Bleichrodt added: "Karen has been instrumental in growing Holland America Line’s presence in the UK and Ireland. 

“Her leadership, commercial insight and passion for the brand have delivered hugely impressive results. 

“This promotion is a natural next step, and I look forward to continuing to deliver our ambitious targets alongside one another."