French cruise line Ponant has hired Danny Giles as business development manager covering the north, Scotland and Ireland.

Giles, who has previously worked for Riviera Travel, Silversea and Hurtigruten, is due to take up the role on February 21.

He will take up the newly-created role within a team of three run by Stephen Winter, the line’s international sales director for the UK and EMEA.

Vladislav Saveliev, sales manager for the south and the Midlands, and Nabil Maillard, sales director for the UK, Ireland and developing markets, will work alongside Giles, who will report into Maillard.

The hiring of the “hugely experienced” Giles is part of a company-wide recruitment drive to fill around 50 positions, including head office roles based in France.

Olivier Narcy, Ponant’s sales director, EMEA, said trade bookings for the line’s sailings were up by almost 25% in 2022, compared to 2019.

He said: “Numerous indicators make us confident of a rapid exit from the crisis. Our growth targets are very ambitious.

“Our current volumes provide a glimpse of a very robust sales dynamic that we will support with an unprecedented level of investment in marketing and communications.”

Ponant currently has 13 ships in operation, representing a 50% capacity increase over the last four years.