P&O Ferries boss who sacked 800 staff quits

BBC

The controversial head of P&O Ferries who presided over the mass sacking of hundreds of workers has quit his role.

Chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite sparked outrage after he sacked 800 staff and replaced them with cheaper agency workers in March 2022.

P&O Ferries told the BBC Mr Hebblethwaite is resigning to "dedicate more time to family matters".

Following the public outrage over the scandal, Mr Hebblethwaite admitted to MPs that the sackings broke UK employment law, but argued no union would have accepted the firm's plans and it was easier to compensate workers instead.

P&O Ferries said it "extends its gratitude to Peter Hebblethwaite for his contributions as CEO over the past four years".

"During his tenure, the company navigated the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, initiated a path towards financial stability, and introduced the world's first large double-ended hybrid ferries on the Dover-Calais route, thereby enhancing sustainability."

At a hearing over workers' rights and protection last year, Mr Hebblethwaite said he was deeply sorry for the redundancies and claimed "we would not make that decision again".