Fri, 29 Aug 2025

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 P&O Ferries boss who sacked 800 staff quits

Chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite led the company when it sacked hundreds of staff in March 2022.

* Peter Hebblethwaite, CEO of P&O Ferries, has resigned from his role.
* He presided over the mass sacking of 800 workers in March 2022, who were replaced with cheaper agency staff.
* The sackings sparked public outrage and were found to have broken UK employment law.
* Hebblethwaite initially admitted that the sackings broke the law but later claimed they weren't illegal.
* The company has thanked him for his contributions as CEO, citing his leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic and introduction of sustainable ferries.
* Trade unions have welcomed his resignation, describing him as a "corporate pirate" who demonstrated the need for stronger protections for workers.
* Since the scandal emerged, the government has drafted legislation aimed at preventing similar firings in the future.
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