The chief executive of P&O Ferries, Peter Hebblethwaite, is stepping down three years after sparking outrage by sacking nearly 800 workers and replacing them with cheaper agency staff.
Dubbed “Britain’s most hated boss” and even likened to a “pirate” by then-Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Hebblethwaite faced fierce criticism in March 2022 when he admitted to MPs that the mass redundancies were unlawful. Despite acknowledging there was “absolutely no doubt” the company was required to consult with unions, he told Parliament that P&O “chose not to do so”.
The move, which saw staff replaced with agency workers earning an average of £5.50 an hour — far below the UK minimum wage of £9.50 at the time — triggered nationwide protests and led the government to strengthen employment law.
Exit after pay controversy
Hebblethwaite resisted repeated calls to resign but is now quitting to “dedicate more time to family matters,” according to the company. His departure comes just weeks after it emerged his pay package had swelled to £715,000 including bonuses.
P&O Ferries, owned by Dubai’s DP World, thanked him for guiding the company through the Covid-19 pandemic and overseeing the launch of the world’s first large double-ended hybrid ferries on the Dover–Calais route.
In a statement, the firm said:
“P&O Ferries extends its gratitude to Peter Hebblethwaite for his contributions as CEO over the past four years… We extend our best wishes to him for his future endeavours.”
Lasting legacy
At a Parliamentary hearing last year, Hebblethwaite apologised for his handling of the mass sackings and admitted: “We would not make that decision again.” He also conceded he could not live on the hourly rate paid to agency crew.
The scandal tarnished P&O Ferries’ reputation and ignited protests in Dover, Liverpool and Hull. It also cemented Hebblethwaite’s status as one of the UK’s most controversial corporate leaders.
P&O Ferries carries 4.5 million passengers a year on UK–European routes, including Dover–Calais and Hull–Rotterdam, as well as services between Scotland and Northern Ireland. Hebblethwaite, 54, joined the company in 2019 after senior roles at Sainsbury’s and Greene King, becoming chief executive in 2021.
