Outgoing chair Peter Griffiths, Head of Brand Marketing at Caledonian MacBrayne, handed over the leadership mantle at the organisation’s quarterly member meeting held in London on 17th September. He has steered the organisation since 2023 alongside Director Abby Penlington. During his time as Chair many operators introduced new, greener ships and he guided activities that focused on member collaboration, influencer marketing and consumer engagement.

Adrian brings extensive expertise from his role leading communications at Uber Boat by Thames Clippers as he has cemented the brand as a pioneer in urban river transport with the launch of the UK’s first fully electric vessel. He also has a background of more than 30 years in the travel and leisure industry, shaping sales and marketing strategies for InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Europcar, Hertz and Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. His experience in generating business growth through marketing communications, partnerships and content creation, will help Discover Ferries to shape effective consumer and trade engagement campaigns that raise the profile of the whole industry.

Adrian’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the passenger ferry sector as it adopts new and sustainable technology, strengthens ties with travel agents and meets shifting consumer demands for great value travel experiences. Last year, Discover Ferries saw over 32 million passenger journeys by ferry, 8 million car journeys as well as over 98,000 coach journeys from UK ports* and sees greater opportunity for growth as appetite for consumer travel grows.

Reflecting on his new role, incoming Chair, Adrian White, says: “I want to thank Peter for his fantastic leadership and commitment to Discover Ferries over the past few years. It’s an exciting time for our sector as new green technologies, alternative fuels, and modern booking systems transform the passenger experience, making travelling by water an easy choice. As Chair, I am looking forward to working alongside Abby and our members to highlight how the sector is driving sustainability forward while delivering exceptional value and experiences for passengers.”

Abby Penlington, Director of Discover Ferries, comments on the transition: “It has been an absolute privilege working alongside Peter to promote the breadth and value of ferry travel and he will continue to be a supportive member. As we look to the future, Adrian will help us to partner with the trade industry and showcase the wealth of experiences travelling by ferry offers. His knowledge and vision will be invaluable as we communicate exciting developments within our industry to new and existing audiences.”

Reflecting on his tenure, outgoing Chair Peter Griffiths says: “Handing the helm over to Adrian comes at a brilliant time; his wealth of experience in transport, innovation, and customer communications makes him ideally suited to lead the organisation into its next chapter of sustainable growth. It has been an honour to work alongside our members to promote the joy of ferry travel and add value to our sector. I look forward to continuing to support Discover Ferries and participating in the development of more fantastic campaigns.”