Harding steps up recruitment drive as cruise industry prepares for restart

Victor Patience: Many years of experience in the luxury goods and cruise sector

UK. Global cruise retail specialist Harding has named Victor Patience as Vice President of Luxury Sales and Sam Haley as Marketing & PR Manager as it prepares for the cruise market to return this Summer. The company said it is “undertaking a strategic recruitment campaign aimed at attracting world-class talent across all locations and positions”.

This follows the news that Harding won contracts to manage retail on the Carnival UK cruise fleet comprising P&O Cruises’ Ventura, Britannia, Arcadia, Aurora, Azura and new ship Iona (which will sail her maiden voyage this Summer), as well as all three ships in the Cunard fleet: Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.

Victor Patience, who joins in the newly created role of Vice President of Luxury Sales, is a highly respected cruise industry figure with 22 years’ experience, most recently with leading US jewellery brand Effy.

Sam Haley: Will manage the Harding Oceantainment programme among other responsibilities

The company said: “His career spans numerous partners across luxury brands, from onboard retail and luxury duty free to developing and elevating teams. With his tremendous experience in duty free marketing and cruise retail, Harding is confident that he will further develop and grow the onboard luxury shopping experience with new initiatives tailored to each cruise partner.”

As Marketing & PR Manager, well respected former Rémy Cointreau travel retail executive Sam Haley will manage and develop the Harding Oceantainment programme, internal and external PR, marketing production and coordination, brand development and cruise line liaison.

The company said: “It is a delight to continue to recruit and welcome industry-leading talent to Harding. Sam has over 20 years’ experience in travel retail within the Rémy group working with incredibly iconic brands, covering product innovation, marketing and experiential activations.”

Harding Managing Director James Prescott said: “People are the absolute core of our values and these two appointments, along with our tremendous drive to recruit and develop all of our onboard teams, is another milestone in our journey. It’s great to be looking to the future with confidence once again, and these new appointments are a fantastic sign that the future for the cruise business is brighter than ever.”

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