TUI has appointed Christopher Hackney as Managing Director of Marella Cruises (formerly known as Thomson Cruises). Effective on December 1, 2017, Hackney will report to the Director of Cruise and Distribution, Helen Caron. Richard Sofer left the position of Managing Director last month to be the new Commercial Director of TUI UK and Ireland.

After 14 years at TUI within the commercial division, holding several product and trading positions. Hackney reaches the company's management only two years after joining the Cruise Division as Commercial Director with excellent results. Following the news of Christopher Hackney promotion to Managing Director of Marella Cruises Helen Caron said: “I am delighted that Chris Hackeny is the new Managing Director of Marella Cruises at such an exciting time for our business in which we are establishing the Marella brand in the British market and launching our new Marella Explorer ship next spring. Our cruise division is the core of the growth strategy for the British market and I am sure that under this leadership Marella Cruises will be strengthened more and more "