DFDS Seaways reorganises UK passenger operation / travel

DFDS Seaways has introduced a new UK passenger organisation that will be responsible for all passenger sales for DFDS Seaways’ four ferry routes on the English Channel, as well as the passenger routes from Newcastle to Amsterdam and Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark).

The new UK sales organisation will be headed by Max Foster, who has previously been heading DFDS Seaways’ joint passenger sales organisation in Germany.

The new head of UK marketing & strategy will be Pete Akerman who has previously been head of marketing in Newcastle for the passenger routes from Newcastle to Amsterdam and Harwich to Esbjerg. 

The management restructure will mean that DFDS Seaways will be represented by one single UK sales organisation for all six UK routes, instead of the two organisations that previously existed. 

Foster said: “The purpose of merging the two current organisations into one is to achieve stronger visibility and make it easier for our customers to find us, and from a trade perspective, make it easier for trade accounts to book with us and work with us.

“Trade accounts will now just have one contact point at DFDS Seaways covering all 6 routes in the UK.”

Long serving passenger directors John Crummie (Newcastle) and Chris Newey (Dover) have left the company to pursue opportunities outside the group.

Peder Gellert Pedersen, executive vice president and head of DFDS’ Shipping Division said: “Chris and John’s contribution to DFDS Seaways can hardly be overrated.

“We are grateful for their extremely important contribution to the success on our Channel and North Sea routes and naturally we respect their decision and wish them all the best in their future careers.”

Max Foster will be based in Dover and Pete Akerman will, in addition to his role as head of UK marketing & strategy, take over responsibility as head of DFDS Seaways’ office in Newcastle. 

DFDS Seaways was named as the World’s Leading Ferry Operator by the World Travel Awards in 2012.

The company also launched a new cross-channel ferry service from Dover-Calais in partnership with LD lines in July last year.