Katie McAlister

President
Cunard
Portrait of Kate McAlister, Vice President of Marketing at Carnival Cruise Line.

Katie is President of luxury British cruise line Cunard, a world-class brand that pioneered transatlantic journeys. As President of the leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic, Katie oversees all performance and operational functions of Cunard and its fleet of ships. She reports to Paul Ludlow, President of Carnival UK and P&O Cruises.

A cruise industry veteran, Katie brings decades of commercial and operational experience as well as digital transformation expertise and strategic oversight to the role. Katie joined Cunard at a key point in its history and is responsible for overseeing the brand’s growth opportunities and expansion while retaining its renowned luxury, signature touches. Under Katie’s leadership, Cunard ushered in a new era of cruising for the brand with the introduction of Queen Anne in 2024, bridging the brand’s 183-year historic legacy with modern ocean travel.

Roles & Chronology

2023 – Present
President, Cunard
2018 – 2023
Chief Marketing Officer, UK & Ireland, TUI
2016 – 2021
Digital Director, Northern Region, TUI Group
2014 – 2023
Director of Business Change, Customer, TUI
2013 – 2023
Head of Customer Strategy and CRM, TUI
2008 – 2023
Head of Multichannel User Experience, Digital, TUI

Corporate & Charitable Leadership

2021 – Present
Non-Executive Director, The Rank Group

Personal & Educational Background

Katie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages with Linguistics from The Manchester Metropolitan University.

Leadership

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