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Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines appoints Geoff Ridgeon as new head of sales

Geoff Ridgeon
A promotion within the Fred Olsen business for Geoff Ridgeon
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has recently appointed Geoff Ridgeon as its new head of sales with effect May 7. Ridgeon will take overall responsibility for managing Fred. Olsen’s UK sales teams, as well as furthering relations with the travel trade.

Ridgeon has been head of Cruise at Fred. Olsen Travel – based in Ipswich, Suffolk – since 2011, and has held multiple positions over his 22-year career there, including franchise manager, sales manager – Star Clippers, and reception manager across the Fred. Olsen fleet.

Ridgeon will be following in the footsteps of Fred. Olsen stalwart Mike Evans, who has been head of sales at the cruise line since April 2017. Evans will be retiring on April 26, following his 27-year career with Fred. Olsen.

A stellar career

Speaking of his new appointment, Ridgeon said: ‘I look forward to bringing my 14 years of travel agency experience to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

‘Of course, I will be sad to leave Fred. Olsen Travel and GoCruise, but I am thrilled to be joining another thriving part of the Fred. Olsen business. I would just like to pay tribute to all my colleagues and managing director, Steve Williams, for their valuable support over the years.’

Justin Stanton, sales and marketing director for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: ‘Geoff is well-known within the travel industry and – while we will really feel the loss of Mike Evans moving on – he will be a great addition to our senior management team.’