Celebrity Cruises has appointed six people to its UK and Ireland sales team.

The team has been strengthened ahead of Celebrity Apex arriving into the UK in 2024, where it will be based at Southampton.

Riviera Travel Sales Manager Chris Barker joins Celebrity as Regional Sales Manager, looking after the newly created Central region, taking Celebrity’s field sales team to five people.

Matt Alderton is one of two new Strategic Account Managers. He previously worked at Hoseasons as Property & Portfolio Manager.

The other Strategic Account Manager is Emma Craggs, who joined Celebrity in May from Hays Travel.

Emma Birkett has become Sales, Planning and Activation Manager at Celebrity, joining from British Airways.

Catherine Burns has been named Trade Marketing Manager, while Anna Penkert has become Trade Marketing Executive.  Both have joined Celebrity from outside the industry, with Catherine previously working at Ordnance Survey and Anna with clothing company Charles Tyrwhitt.

Meanwhile, Zoe Edwards has returned from maternity leave as a Business Development Executive.  

Pictured, top from left: Chris Barker, Matt Alderton, Emma Craggs and pictured, bottom, from left: Emma Birkett, Catherine Burns and Anna Penkert.