Katie McAlister
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 (UK).
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 will usher 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
At the beginning of 2024, Mario was unanimously appointed President of Confitarma, the Italian Confederation of Shipowners for a four-year term from 2024-2028.
- 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.
She lives in St. Albans, England with her husband and two children.
