Holland America Line has revealed that Karen Farndell will lead the line’s UK team as director of sales & marketing.

Farndell – who will based at the company’s UK offices at Carnival House, Southampton – is currently senior sales manager at Princess Cruises, and will join Holland America Line on 19 September.

She will report directly to vice-president international sales Nico Bleichrodt, who is based in Rotterdam.

Wendy Lahmich, who is the current director of sales for HAL and Seabourn, will move over full time to Seabourn as director of sales for the UK and now also Europe.

Carly Perkins will be Seabourn’s senior marketing manager UK & Europe, with Adam Scholey as trade sales specialist.

There will also be a Seabourn Europe team, based in Rotterdam, reporting to Lynn Narraway, who was promoted to Seabourn UK and Europe MD in February.

Elsewhere, business development manager Lucy Davies, and senior business development representative Emma Paolino will remain with Holland America Line and report directly to Farndell.

Aaron Myers will also stay with Holland America Line as product, pricing & demand manager for the UK and Ireland, also reporting into Farndell.

Seabourn & HAL aiming for ‘smooth’ transition

Bleichrodt said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Karen to head the Holland America Line UK sales and marketing team.

“Karen will bring her wealth of experience in sales and marketing from her time with our sister company, Princess Cruises, and our objective is that having a separate and dedicated team for Holland America Line in the UK will provide a greater focus and success for the brand.”

Narraway added: “For now it is business as usual for both brands as we finalise this new structure, which is likely to start taking effect in the autumn.

“We want to make sure that the transition into having separate teams for Seabourn and Holland America Line in the UK is as smooth as possible, ensuring that our agent partners receive the same excellent service from both incredible brands.”