Giles Hawkes, who previously was Sales and Customer Services Director for Carnival UK's Complete Cruise Solutions unit, the umbrella trade brand for P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises & Cunard Line, has been appointed managing director of MSC Cruises UK, the company said in a statement

His role will be to grow MSC’s position as a market leading Cruise Company in the UK and Ireland.

“This is a great opportunity to really make a difference at a crucial time for the business. MSC is one of the world’s largest cruise lines and we need to ensure that our brand recognition in the UK and Ireland is in line with our market position. I have always admired the MSC Cruises brand, its European values and unique, stylish offering," Hawkes said.

"I think there is a huge opportunity to develop the business and increase sales substantially in the UK and Ireland. I intend to build on the great work already carried out by the UK team, working with trade partners to give them a real option to confidently sell this cruise product to their customers and grow their own business significantly as well” he said.