Grimaldi Group outfit Finnlines has appointed a new manager to oversee its passenger business, which took a hit during the coronavirus pandemic.
The company named Marco Palmu as its new head of passenger services. The executive joins the Grimaldi Group company from Finnish peer Tallink Silja, where he was commercial director.
At his new post with Finnlines he carries overall responsibility of the company's passenger business. According to Finnlines’ website, Palmu’s predecessor at the post was Kielo Vesikko, who had worked at Tallink Silja as well before joining Finnlines in 2009.
Ferrying passengers in northern Europe is a major part of activities at liner operator Finnlines, which has a fleet of about 20 ro-ro and passenger ships.
The business suffered during the coronavirus pandemic and has been recovering slowly.
Between January and June, the number of private passengers remained below the level achieved in the corresponding period of 2020, Finnlines said in financial results released on 29 July.
Including commercial passengers, the total number of paying individuals Finnlines transported over this period rose only slightly to 228,000 from 227,000.
Passenger volumes have started recovering lately but they are still held back by the fact that Finland is relaxing its travel restrictions at a slower pace to other European Union member states, company boss Emanuele Grimaldi said on Thursday.
Finnlines will expect Palmu to oversee and boost the ongoing recovery, based on his “extensive background… [in the] shipping and passenger business”, the company said.
Palmu will report to Grimaldi and also joins the management board at Finnlines Group.
