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| ‘Britain’s most hated boss’ who sacked almost 800 staff at P&O Ferries to quit | ‘Britain’s most hated boss’ who sacked almost 800 staff at P&O Ferries to quit |
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| Peter Hebblethwaite to leave company where he replaced workers with seafarers paid less than UK minimum wage | Peter Hebblethwaite to leave company where he replaced workers with seafarers paid less than UK minimum wage |
| Business live – latest updates | Business live – latest updates |
| The chief executive described as “Britain’s most hated boss” after sacking almost 800 workers at P&O Ferries is to leave the company. | The chief executive described as “Britain’s most hated boss” after sacking almost 800 workers at P&O Ferries is to leave the company. |
| Peter Hebblethwaite prompted outrage in 2022 after P&O Ferries dismissed 786 staff and replaced them with low-paid agency workers, who received considerably less than the UK minimum wage. | |
| At the time the cross-Channel ferry company was accused of operating like “pirates of the high sea” and during questioning at a parliamentary hearing Darren Jones, then chair of the business committee, asked: “Are you in this mess because you don’t know what you’re doing, or are you just a shameless criminal?” | At the time the cross-Channel ferry company was accused of operating like “pirates of the high sea” and during questioning at a parliamentary hearing Darren Jones, then chair of the business committee, asked: “Are you in this mess because you don’t know what you’re doing, or are you just a shameless criminal?” |
| Hebblethwaite always said his actions were the only way of saving the ferry group from going bust. No criminal charges were brought after the sackings. | |
| A spokesperson for P&O Ferries, a subsidiary of the Dubai-based ports operator DP World, said: “Peter Hebblethwaite has communicated his intention to resign from his position as chief executive officer to dedicate more time to family matters. P&O Ferries extends its gratitude to Peter Hebblethwaite for his contributions as CEO over the past four years. | A spokesperson for P&O Ferries, a subsidiary of the Dubai-based ports operator DP World, said: “Peter Hebblethwaite has communicated his intention to resign from his position as chief executive officer to dedicate more time to family matters. P&O Ferries extends its gratitude to Peter Hebblethwaite for his contributions as CEO over the past four years. |
| “During his tenure the company navigated the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, initiated a path towards financial stability, and introduced the world’s first large double-ended hybrid ferries on the Dover-Calais route, thereby enhancing sustainability. We extend our best wishes to him for his future endeavours.” | “During his tenure the company navigated the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, initiated a path towards financial stability, and introduced the world’s first large double-ended hybrid ferries on the Dover-Calais route, thereby enhancing sustainability. We extend our best wishes to him for his future endeavours.” |
| The change of management at P&O Ferries, which was first reported by Sky News, follows the company wrestling with its governance after twice failing to publish its annual accounts on time, which is technically a criminal offence. | The change of management at P&O Ferries, which was first reported by Sky News, follows the company wrestling with its governance after twice failing to publish its annual accounts on time, which is technically a criminal offence. |
| The ferry operator’s 2022 accounts were almost 11 months late when they were belatedly published in November last year and showed that the company spent more than £47m on jettisoning its UK seafarers. | The ferry operator’s 2022 accounts were almost 11 months late when they were belatedly published in November last year and showed that the company spent more than £47m on jettisoning its UK seafarers. |
| Earlier this year, it emerged that P&O had hired a tiny four-person auditing firm to replace KPMG, one of the “Big Four” accountancy firms, which resigned from approving its annual accounts in March. | |
| When P&O Ferries’ 2023 accounts were finally published in July, they revealed that Hebblethwaite had been paid £683,000 in the financial year after making the controversial dismissals, a pay rise of at least 55% that included a £183,000 bonus. | When P&O Ferries’ 2023 accounts were finally published in July, they revealed that Hebblethwaite had been paid £683,000 in the financial year after making the controversial dismissals, a pay rise of at least 55% that included a £183,000 bonus. |
| “I reflected on accepting that payment, but ultimately I did decide to accept it,” Hebblethwaite told MPs. “I do recognise it is not a decision that everybody would have made.” | “I reflected on accepting that payment, but ultimately I did decide to accept it,” Hebblethwaite told MPs. “I do recognise it is not a decision that everybody would have made.” |
| The increased remuneration contrasted sharply with the pay that had been received by seafarers onboard the company’s ferries. | The increased remuneration contrasted sharply with the pay that had been received by seafarers onboard the company’s ferries. |
| In 2022, the businessman told parliamentarians that the lowest-paid agency worker would receive £5.15 an hour, only for a Guardian and ITV News investigation in March 2024 to reveal how some seafarers were receiving an hourly rate as low as £4.87. | In 2022, the businessman told parliamentarians that the lowest-paid agency worker would receive £5.15 an hour, only for a Guardian and ITV News investigation in March 2024 to reveal how some seafarers were receiving an hourly rate as low as £4.87. |
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| Hebblethwaite was recalled to appear in front of another select committee hearing two months after the expose and conceded that “the lowest, fully consolidated hourly pay is about £4.87”. When the Guardian and ITV News had previously asked P&O about the £4.87 an hour figure, a spokesperson had said: “We do not recognise the pay rates that you are referencing. No member of our crew on our Dover-Calais vessels earns less than $2,400 per month, equivalent to £5.20 per hour.” | Hebblethwaite was recalled to appear in front of another select committee hearing two months after the expose and conceded that “the lowest, fully consolidated hourly pay is about £4.87”. When the Guardian and ITV News had previously asked P&O about the £4.87 an hour figure, a spokesperson had said: “We do not recognise the pay rates that you are referencing. No member of our crew on our Dover-Calais vessels earns less than $2,400 per month, equivalent to £5.20 per hour.” |
| The company was able to pay rates considerably below the UK minimum wage because maritime workers, employed by an overseas agency who work on foreign-registered ships in international waters, were exempt from the relevant legislation. As P&O used that specific model, the level of pay on board its vessels was legal. | The company was able to pay rates considerably below the UK minimum wage because maritime workers, employed by an overseas agency who work on foreign-registered ships in international waters, were exempt from the relevant legislation. As P&O used that specific model, the level of pay on board its vessels was legal. |
| However, last year new legislation in the UK and France became active. Pay rates are understood to have risen onboard P&O vessels since. | However, last year new legislation in the UK and France became active. Pay rates are understood to have risen onboard P&O vessels since. |
| In its latest accounts, the company lost £91.4m before tax in 2023, a considerable improvement on the £249.4m losses in 2022. | In its latest accounts, the company lost £91.4m before tax in 2023, a considerable improvement on the £249.4m losses in 2022. |
| The accounts show that it transported 4.6 million passengers in 2023, a 45% reduction on the 8.4 million carried in 2018. | The accounts show that it transported 4.6 million passengers in 2023, a 45% reduction on the 8.4 million carried in 2018. |