Meet Cunard President and Proud Northerner Katie McAlister
Award-winning West End show Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) has embarked on a Cunard sponsored UK-wide tour and is premiering the new shore-based production at Newcastle Theatre Royal
Katie grew up and went to school in Morpeth, with two brothers, surrounded by family and friends. ‘It’s a beautiful place, and I still visit as often as I can,’ she says. ‘Even though I now live in St Albans, I like my children, aged 11 and 15, to feel connected to their Geordie roots. We spend our holidays on the Northumberland coast, and it takes me right back to my childhood. The North East will always be home for me – the people are brilliant, and the beaches are some of the best in the world.’
Katie studied French and Spanish at university in Manchester and went straight into a graduate role with Thomson Holidays (now TUI). ‘The job was overseas, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to improve my Spanish, but I ended up working in Greece, Turkey, and Portugal – so my Spanish didn’t progress much,’ says Katie. ‘However, I did discover my love for the travel industry. After more than 20 years with TUI, working in almost every part of the business, I became Chief Marketing Officer for the UK. The experience set me up well for my current role as president of Cunard, where I’ve been for just over a year.’
Being from the North East has given Katie a strong sense of identity and roots, which she says is essential in a job that takes her ‘all over the place’. ‘There’s an openness about people from the North East,’ she says. ‘They’re friendly, curious, and don’t take themselves too seriously. Those qualities have definitely helped me in my career.
‘I love working in the travel industry, and my role gives me a real sense of purpose. As a female leader, and a mum, I think it’s important to show that you can have a successful career while maintaining a work-life balance, and I try to do that in an authentic way. Life is a juggling act, and it’s not always perfect, but I believe being honest about that, and finding something you love to do, can inspire others, especially women early in their careers. I’ve been lucky to have great mentors, and it’s rewarding to pass that on.’
Unsurprisingly there isn’t really a typical day in Katie’s job, but she enjoys that. ‘I could be visiting one of our ships, at our headquarters in Southampton, or at one of our offices around the world. Spending time with our guests and crew is invaluable – it’s the best way to understand how our work at head office affects their experience and to see how we can improve things,’ she explains. ‘One of the most incredible days of my career was the Queen Anne naming ceremony in Liverpool. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience – the atmosphere was electric as we were surrounded by over 50,000 guests, partners, and crew. The sheer scale of the ceremony, the pride of everyone involved, and the excitement for what Queen Anne represents for Cunard’s future made it a truly remarkable and unforgettable day.
‘At Cunard, we aim to offer our guests the finest luxury experiences, including in entertainment. For Queen Anne, we worked with the renowned theatre producer David Pugh to bring the Olivier Award-winning show Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) on board. It’s a shorter, lively version of the classic, and we’re delighted to be sponsoring its opening in Newcastle and its UK tour. It’s a fantastic show, and for those who see it, it gives a taste of the high-quality entertainment we offer on our ships.’
Cunard is the headline sponsor of this autumn’s 35-date UK tour of Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of).
Cunard is an iconic brand with 184 years of history, and Katie says her role is really about being a custodian. ‘Making sure we evolve carefully while staying true to our heritage,’ she explains. ‘We’re looking forward to celebrating 185 years, and as we expand into new markets like Miami, the goal is to keep Cunard at the forefront of luxury travel for years to come. Personally, I’m hoping to spend as much of my free time as possible on the beaches of Northumberland!’
Discover more about Cunard at cunard.com, and get your tickets to Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) at theatreroyal.co.uk.
